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* 




IN THE GREEN FOREST 








































































































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“ He put the chain over his head and let the jewel 
rest upon the boy's breast 










In The 

Green Forest 

IVritten b Illustrated 


KatharineP_yle 


Published by- 
Little , Brown <V Co, 
Boston 

1902 









02-'Zf : ?iCpl C'O'P'il* 


CONGRESS, 

Two Cop,e8 Received 

OCT. ?4 1902 

Copyright entry 

<3>c 

CLASS CC XXa No. 
©O PY A. 



Copyright, 1902, 

By Little, Brown, and Company. 

All rights reserved. 

Published October, 1902. 


* <? 

• c 

• C C' 


UNIVERSITY PRESS • JOHN WILSON 
AND SON. . CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. 






CHAPTER PAGE 

I. TnijpSiff shows Red Cap some Magic .... i 

II. Red Cap starts out in the World .... n 

III. The Elf and the Fairy meet with an Adventure 21 

IV. How Red Cap and Nightshade saved the Eggs 32 


V. The Turn to the Left.44 

VI. More Magic .56 

VII. In the House of the Shadow Mother ... 70 

VIII. The Elf and the Fairy rest for a while. . 88 

IX. The Lost Talisman Again. 103 

X. Red Cap and Nightshade travel toward the 

Right . . . . ..117 

XI. Nightshade comes Home Again. 126 

XII. A Message from the Queen. 142 

XIII. More Magic than was looked for .... 160 


I v ] 


























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































“ He put the chain over his head and let the 
jewel rest upon the boy’s breast ” . . . 
“ He set out the food his mother had packed for 

him ”. 

“ Staring down at him with cruel, unblinking 
eyes, was the head of the snake ” . . . 

“ . . . kneeling down, put his mouth to the 

thread of water ”. 

“ ‘ No matter why I want it,’ he cried, ‘ but have 

it I must and shall' ”. 

“ Wondering, Red Cap put in his hand ”... 
“ There stood a little fruit tree all complete ” . . 

“ With that he stuck his finger right through the 
web and down into the tumbler ” . . . . 

“ The elf stretched his wings with a groan ” . . 

“ The travellers were very glad to see their faith¬ 
ful bees ”. 

“ Fasten his thread to a sturdy frond of fern ” . 

“ Red Cap hovered below the shadow listening, 

and then he flew up nearer”. 

“ No one but fairies or insects could have made 
their way through such a thorny tangle ” 


Frontispiece 

Page 25 

Facing Page 37 

Page 46 

Facing Page 5 3 
Page 59 
„ 68 

„ 76 

„ 85 

„ 92 

„ 101 

„ 106 

» 119 


[ vii ] 






List of Illustrations 

“ A great figure slowly shaped itself against the 

blue”. Facing Page 122 

“. . . hobbled over to the great worm -hole 

where she kept the rolls of fine cloth” . Page 129 

“Then Nightshade began to tell them of his 

journey”. „ 136 

“The five made a gay appearance as they winged 

across the grove ”. ,,144 

“ ‘ Oh, hide your face; don’t let her see you ’ ” . Facing Page 152 
“ Like a flash he caught it by the tail, and lifted 

it from the ground ”. Page 165 

“ The queen questioned Red Cap further about 

his magic ”. „ 169 


f viii 1 







IN THE GREEN FOREST 



T was Thursday, the fairies' feast 
day. On Thursdays Mother Peaspod 
generally had for dinner a grasshop- 
pers thigh roasted and with a sauce 
of honey poured over it, — a 
dish that Father Peaspod was 
• especially fond of. 

On this particular Thurs¬ 
day Father Peaspod carved 
the roast as usual, and then, after helping each 
one to the proper share, he looked about the 
table. “ You forgot the bread,” he said to his 
wife. 


[ i ] 







In the Green Forest 

“ No, I did n’t forget it, but Buzzfuzz has n’t come 
back yet. I waited for him as long as I dared, and 
then I thought I’d better have dinner anyway before 
the roast dried in the oven.” 

“ I’d almost as lieve not have any dinner as have 
it without bread,” Father Peaspod grumbled. 

“ There comes Buzzfuzz now,” cried Red Cap, 
as a large bee crawled through the knot-hole 
which was the front door. 

Mother Peaspod gave an exclamation of relief, 
and hastened to get a plate. Upon this she emp¬ 
tied the pollen that filled the basket-like hollows 
in the hind legs of the bee. Then she put the 
full plate on the table. 

“ I really think we ’ll have to get a new bee,” 
said Father Peaspod, as he helped himself to some 
pollen, or bee bread, as the fairies call it. “ Buzzfuzz 
is getting quite lazy.” 

“ Oh, yes, father,” cried Red Cap, eagerly, “ and 
give Buzzfuzz to me. Then I ’ll have a bee of 
my very own to fetch my dinner.” 

Red Cap was extravagantly fond of bee bread; 
he would have liked to live on it altogether. And 
indeed it is very healthful food for fairies. Some 
of the babies are brought up on it almost entirely. 
Every well-to-do family keeps one or more bees 
[ 2 ] 


The Elf shows Red Cap some Magic 

about the house so that they can have fresh bread 
every day. The fairies make great pets of their 
bees, feeding them with honey, or other dainties, 
and keeping them well brushed. 

Father Peaspod laughed when Red Cap said 
he wanted one of his own. “ Why should you 
want one, my son? You’re too young to be own¬ 
ing bees yet.” 

“Well, to-morrow’s my birthday, father, and I ’ll 
be a hundred. I don’t think a hundred’s so very 
young.” 

“ No,” said Mother Peaspod with a sigh, “you ’re 
not my little baby any more, you ’re getting such a 
big lad.” 

“ A hundred ! ” quavered old Grandaddy Dande¬ 
lion. “ I remember when I was a hundred I 
thought I was almost as big a fairy as my father. 
My grandfather gave me a talisman on that day. 
I used it until I grew too old to go flying about 
the world, and then I laid it away to give to my 
grandson when he was a hundred. To-morrow it 
shall be yours, Red Cap, as a birthday gift.” 

“ A talisman, grandfather! What is a talisman ? ” 
asked the boy. 

“ It’s something to wear to protect you from 
evil.” 


[ 3 ] 


In the Green Forest 


“ What sort of a thing ? ” 

But the grandfather would tell him no more 
about it. “Wait until to-morrow and you 11 see/’ 
was all he would say. 

Having finished his dinner, Red Cap now wiped 
his mouth and rose. Before he left the table, how¬ 
ever, he said, as all fairy children are taught to 
say after meals, — 

“ Meat and drink have made me glad ; 

Thanks, good mother, for what I Ve had.” 

Then at a nod from his mother away he ran, glad 
to get back to his play. 

As he came out from the tree Red Cap stood for 
a moment looking all about. Bluebell, his favor¬ 
ite playmate, had promised to come out again as 
soon as she had finished her dinner. 

She was not in sight, but she might be some¬ 
where about. Spreading his gauzy wings Red 
Cap dropped lightly to the ground. 

Then he ran along toward the tree where Blue¬ 
bell lived, amusing himself as he went. Sometimes 
he stopped to dance with his shadow in a sun-fleck 
that slipped between the great green leaves far 
overhead. Sometimes he jumped on the back of 
a hurrying black cricket for a ride; these rides did 
[ 4 ] 


The Elf shows Red Cap some Magic 

not last long, however, as the crickets’ backs were 
so hard and shiny he soon slipped off. Sometimes 
he paused to watch a spotted lady-bug climbing 
up a tall grass stem. 

At last, running under a deserted-spider’s web 
that stretched above him like a tent, he happened 
to look up, and saw Bluebell sitting in the spider’s 
tunnel and looking out at him through a hole in 
the web. 

“ Hello, you there pretending you ’re a spider, I 
see you,” cried Red Cap. He climbed upon the 
spider’s web and ran across it, taking very high 
steps as it bent under his weight. 

Suddenly he paused. Sitting at the edge of the 
tunnel and talking with Bluebell was a mischiev¬ 
ous elf named Nightshade who had come lately to 
live in a beech-tree near by. An old flying squirrel 
used to stay in that tree, but Nightshade had 
driven her away and taken possession of her entire 
hoard of nuts. There he lived all alone except for 
his bee, an ugly, cross insect named Gripper. 

None of the fairies had much to do with this 
elf, but he used to watch them from his knot-hole 
and throw down empty nutshells at them when 
they were playing. 

Red Cap did not like to see Nightshade sitting 

[ 5 ] 


In the Green Forest 

there and talking so familiarly to his own especial 
playmate. 

“Bluebell,” he called, “aren’t you coming to 
play with me ? ” 

“No, she’s going to play with me; aren’t you, 
Bluebell?” cried Nightshade. 

“ I don’t know,” said the fairy, swaying herself 
in the tunnel so the whole web shook, “I don’t 
know yet what I’m going to do.” 

“ Why, Bluebell,” said Red Cap, “you said you’d 
play with me after dinner. And I would n’t play 
with an elf anyway.” 

“ Oh, you would n’t, would n’t you ? ” cried Night¬ 
shade. “Well, I guess I can do things that you 
can’t, even if I am an elf. She’s going to stay 
here with me and I’m going to show her some 
magic.” 

Now very few of the simple wood fairies know 
how to do any magic at all, so when Nightshade 
said this, Red Cap felt somewhat taken aback for 
a moment. Then he said, “ Pooh! I don’t believe 
you know any magic.” 

“ Don’t I ? Well I guess I do, too.” 

“ What can you do ? ” 

“ Oh, lots of things.” 

“ But what ? ” 


[ 6 ] 


The Elf shows Red Cap some Magic 

“ I shan’t tell you.” 

“ Because you can’t.” 

“ Yes, I can, too.” Then, as Red Cap still looked 
doubtful, the elf added, “ Well maybe I ’ll show you 
one magic trick, but I shan’t show you any but 
this one.” Nightshade looked about him. Just 
overhead a great greyish cocoon was hanging. 

“ Do you see that cocoon? ” asked the elf. 

“ Yes.” 

“ Well, do you know what made it?” 

“ A caterpillar, of course.” 

“And do you know what’s coming out of it? ” 

“Yes, I do; I’ve often seen them; a big brown 
moth with a spot on each wing.” 

“ A big brown moth with a spot on each wing,” 
repeated the mischievous elf. “And only one. 
Well, now I’ll show you you don’t know as much 
as you thought. Here’s magic for you.” 

The elf reached up, and by standing on his tip¬ 
toes he could just touch the cocoon. He tapped 
on it with his tiny, tiny nail and it sounded dry 
and hollow. As if in answer to his knock was 
suddenly heard a rustling and gnawing inside, 
audible to fairy ears. Then, while the fairies stared 
with all their eyes, a slight opening appeared and 
out through it crept, not the crumpled moth they 
[ 7 ] 


In the Green Forest 

had expected, but a very small winged fly. It was 
followed by another and another and another, and 
others followed them, twenty in all. Bluebell 
counted them, more and more surprised as each 
appeared. It did indeed seem like magic, just like 
the sleight-of-hand man when he takes a big flag 
and shakes it, and out from it come dozens and 
dozens of little flags, and nobody knows how they 
got in it. 

“There! You couldn’t do that, could you?” 
asked Nightshade, triumphantly. 

“No,” Red Cap was obliged to admit, “ I could n’t 
do that.” 

“No, you couldn’t do any magic and I can do 
lots, and Bluebell’s coming to play with me and 
talk about magic; ain’t you, Bluebell?” 

“ Yes,” and Bluebell suddenly climbed out of the 
tunnel. “ I’m going to play with you.” Nightshade 
took her hand and together they ran across the web. 
At the edge of it the elf paused and looked back. 
“ Don’t you follow us,” he said, “ or I won’t talk 
about magic.” 

Bluebell also glanced back, and seeing how sad 
Red Cap looked she felt sorry for him. “ You learn 
some magic, Red Cap,” she said, “and then you can 
play with us, too.” Then she and Nightshade 

[ 8 ] 


The Elf shows Red Cap some Magic 

jumped down to the ground and ran away together 
hand in hand. 

After they had gone, Red Cap got down from 
the web and walked slowly away. He did not care 
to play now that Bluebell had run away from him. 
The other fairies called to him to come and join 
their games, for he was a great favorite, but he 
only shook his head and wandered off by him¬ 
self. 

After a while he went home. 

“ Why, Red Cap, what makes you come back so 
early?” asked his mother. “What’s the matter?” 

“ Nothing,” answered the boy. Then he sat 
down on the edge of the knot-hole swinging his 
heels. 

Old Grandaddy Dandelion was sitting in the 
knot-hole, too, watching the fairies at their games 
below. Sometimes he laughed his cackling old 
laugh at some of their queer pranks. “ Why don’t 
you go down and play with them ? ” he asked, but 
Red Cap only shook his head. 

Presently he said, “ Grandfather do you know 
any magic ? ” 

“Magic! No; what should I do with magic, 
living here in this quiet forest ? Though there 
was a time,” the old fairy added after a moment, 

[ 9 ] 


In the Green Forest 


‘‘when I would have been glad enough to know 
something of it.” There was a silence while Red 
Cap kicked his heels against a piece of bark, and 
looked moodily down at the games. 

By and by the grandfather spoke again : “ Why 
did you ask me about magic? What have you 
got in your head ? ” 

“ Nothing; only I wish I knew some.” 

“ Do not wish that, my son,” said the old fairy 
earnestly. “ It may be a pleasant thing to know, 
but it means that one has travelled far and seen 
many strange doings; that one has been hungry 
and thirsty and lonely, too, if one can work magic 
things.” 

Red Cap made no answer, and Grandaddy Dan¬ 
delion too was silent. Both seemed to be watch¬ 
ing the fairies below, but neither of the two really 
saw them. Their thoughts were busy upon other 
things, and both were thinking of magic. 



CHAPTER II 

RED CAP STARTS OUT IN THE WORLD 

T HE next day was Red Cap’s birthday. 

“To think,” said Mother Peaspod, 
“ that just a hundred years ago I held 
you in my arms for the first time, such 
a wee little thing, not larger than the grub of a bee.” 

“ Did n’t look unlike one either,” Father Peaspod 
added. 

But this the mother would not allow; “I don’t 
think so at all; such a fuzzy round head he had; 
such cunning little hands and feet, and finished off 
with the tiniest little nails.” 

It made Red Cap feel very queer to be talked 
about that way; he hardly knew how to look. 

His father and mother had given him, for his 
birthday gift, a new suit, all of green, and a new 
red cap coming up to a point. When he put it on 
he made one think of a green leaf that had just 
been tipped with red by the frost. 

[ ii ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ A hundred years old! ” said old Grandaddy 
Dandelion. “And I promised you a talisman on 
your birthday, did n’t I ? ” 

Red Cap had been thinking of that, though he 
had not liked to say anything about it. Now he 
watched his grandfather eagerly as the old fairy 
hobbled over to the fire-place. If Red Cap looked 
like a leaf just touched with frost, Grandaddy 
Dandelion looked like one that had been dried and 
withered by a long winter of sun and rain. 

Beside the fire-place was a deep worm-hole, 
where Grandaddy had stored his most precious 
treasures. He stuck his hand in it and fumbled 
about for a while, drawing out one thing after 
another, none of which seemed to be the right one. 
At last he took out a little package carefully 
wrapped up in the silk of a milk-weed. He gave 
a little cluck of satisfaction as he saw it. Putting 
back the other things he proceeded to unwrap 
layer after layer of the silk, while Red Cap watched 
him breathlessly. At last from the heart of the 
wrappings he took out something and held it up 
for them all to see. They gave a cry of admiration. 

Hanging by an exquisitely wrought chain of 
gold, no coarser than a strand of spider-web, was 
a round jewel; a jewel as clear as a dewdrop, and 
[ 12 ] 


Red Cap Starts Out in the World 

shining with changing lights of all colors. It was 
set in a circlet of gold, and as it swung from the 
chain it seemed to light up the hollow with its 
brightness. 

The old fairy looked at it lovingly for a moment. 
Then stepping to Red Cap he put the chain over 
his head and let the jewel rest upon the boy’s 
breast. “ It is yours, my child,” he said. “ Guard 
it carefully; never part with it, for it is the talisman 
of which I spoke. As long as you wear it no evil 
thing can have any power over you except by your 
own will.” 

“ But, grandfather, do you mean really to give it 
to me ? ” asked Red Cap. “ Don’t you want to 
keep it yourself?” 

“ No, no; I have no need of it, and it is for you 
I have been hoarding it.” 

Red Cap was so pleased he hardly knew how to 
thank the old fairy. He held the jewel in his 
hands for some time turning it this way and that 
to catch the play of colors. When at last he let 
it drop upon his breast and lifted his eyes he 
seemed somehow different. He looked less of a 
child and more of a youth. “And now, mother, 
and father, and grandfather too,” he said, “now 
that I have this talisman I am less afraid to tell 
[ 13 ] 


In the Green Forest 

you of what I have set my heart on.” He paused, 
and then in a moment he added, “ I want to go out 
in the world in search of some one to teach me 
magic.” 

“Oh, no, no, my son,” cried Mother Peaspod, 
while his father looked grave. 

“ I knew it was coming,” said the old grand¬ 
father. “ I knew the signs.” 

“ Is your heart quite set on this, my son ? ” asked 
Peaspod. 

“ Yes, father, it is.” 

“And have you counted the cost? ” 

“ Yes, I have done that, too. All last night I 
lay awake, thinking and thinking.” 

Mother Peaspod began to cry softly to herself. 
“ Oh, my little Red Cap; my baby boy,” she la¬ 
mented ; “ how can you plan to leave us so; to 
fly out into the world away from mother and the 
dear home hollow ? ” 

Red Cap hesitated, turning a pained look upon 
his mother, but Grandaddy Dandelion spoke up 
with authority. “ Hush, daughter,” he said. “ It 
is a brave thought of Red Cap’s. He is no longer 
a baby except in your love. I remember when I 
was his age you could no more have kept me from 
wandering than you can keep the down of my 

[ 14 ] 


Red Cap Starts Out in the JVorld 

name-flower from blowing in the wind. The talis¬ 
man I gave him will keep him from all harm, and 
he will come back contented and ready to settle 
down. Let him go, I say.” 

The old fairys word was still law in the hollow 
of the tree, so after that neither Father nor Mother 
Peaspod made any objections to Red Caps plan. 
Instead they began to talk of what the boy should 
take with him on his journey, and to wonder in 
what direction he ought to go. 

As to the direction, however, Grandaddy Dande¬ 
lion could tell them. That was easy enough. All 
the lad would have to do was to follow up the 
stream that flowed through their grove. When he 
came to its source he would find himself on the 
borders of the enchanted country; “ and in that 
country,” said the old fairy, “are those who can 
teach you magic. That much I know, but beyond 
that you will have to look out for yourself. I 
went to the edge of that land when I was young 
but I never crossed the border. No,” and the old 
fairy shook his head, “ I got that far and then I 
turned back. Maybe I would have been happier 
if I had gone on and learned the magic I longed 
to know, but I have had a good enough sort of life 
as it is.” 


[ IS ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ I shall go on,” said Red Cap proudly. 

The grandfather looked at him. “Yes, you will 
go on, but then you are a different sort of boy 
from what I was.” 

News travels fast among the fairies. Before 
noon every wee creature in the grove knew that 
Red Cap was going to journey to the enchanted 
land to learn magic. When he went among them 
he found himself treated with a new sort of respect 
that was very pleasant. 

Father Peaspod was worried fearing it might 
make the lad vain, but the old grandfather said 
wisely enough, “ Let him alone. Let the child 
enjoy it while he can. He will have hard enough 
knocks when he is once out in the world with 
none of his old friends round him.” 

The next day, while Red Cap was standing under 
a fern leaf, Nightshade marched up to him followed 
lingeringly by Bluebell. 

“ So,” said the elf, looking the fairy up and 
down, “ I hear you are going out into the world 
to learn magic.” 

“ Yes, I am,” answered Red Cap with some 
reserve. 

“ So I heard, but I hardly believed it. I did n’t 
know you had that much pluck in you.” 

[ 16 ] 


Red Cap Starts Out in the World 

“ Did n’t you ? ” 

“No, I didn’t; but I was glad to hear it, and 
now I’ve been thinking it over and I’ve a mind to 
join you and journey out into the world with you.” 

“You!” cried Red Cap. “But you know magic 
already.” 

“Yes, of course I know as much magic as there’s 
any use in knowing, but the fact is I’m getting 
a bit rusty; I would n’t mind brushing up my 
knowledge a little.” 

“But Nightshade,” cried Bluebell, “you said 
you were going to teach me magic, and you 
have n’t. You have n’t shown me the least bit 
except that one trick.” 

“ Pooh ! A girl fairy can’t learn magic,” said 
the elf scornfully. 

Bluebell’s lip trembled. She looked so pitiful 
that Red Cap’s heart melted. “Never mind, Blue¬ 
bell,” he cried, “ I’m going to learn magic and I'll 
teach you.” 

“ Oh, will you, dear Red Cap ? ” and the little 
fairy clasped her hands. “ You ’re so good. You ’re 
a great deal kinder than Nightshade; I liked you 
better all the time anyway.” 

The elf made a face. “ I don’t care. I ’ll learn 
so much magic I won’t care whether you like me 

2 [ 17 I 


In the Green Forest 

or not. Come on, Red Cap/’ and he linked his 
arm through the lad’s; “lets go plan about our 
journey, and when we’d better start.” 

Red Cap was not particularly delighted at the 
idea of having Nightshade for a travelling com¬ 
panion, but he did not know very well how to get 
out of it. However, after the elf had talked to 
him for a while, he began to feel better pleased. 
Nightshade could make himself very pleasant and 
amusing when he chose, and Red Cap began to 
think he would make a very good comrade on the 
journey after all. 

When the fairy told them about it at home, 
Mother Peaspod shook her head. “ I never did 
like that elf,” she said. “ I’m afraid he ’ll get you 
into trouble, my son.” 

“ Well, if he lets an elf like that lead him astray 
he’s not fit to be travelling about the world, and 
he’d better turn his toes home again,” said the 
father. As for Grandaddy Dandelion, he had firm 
faith in the talisman. He had no fear of any harm 
coming to Red Cap as long as he had that along, 
so nothing more was said of the matter; only the 
good mother put up an extra amount of food in 
the scrip that the elf might have some too without 
Red Cap’s having to go the hungrier for it. 

[ 18 ] 


Red Cap Starts Out in the World 

If Red Cap had been left to himself he would 
not have taken anything. He thought it would 
be fun to forage as he went. Then besides, his 
father had given him Buzzfuzz for his own; the 
fairy would have him along to gather bread for 
him, and no doubt Nightshade would take his bee, 
Gripper, though Red Cap did not care much about 
that, — Gripper was such an ugly, cross-looking 
bee. 

That night Father Peaspod’s family stayed up 
late, long after the birds had sought their nests. 
The mother sat beside Red Cap holding his hand 
in hers. It seemed as though she could not bear 
to have this last evening come to an end. 

But at last Father Peaspod arose. “ Well, 
mother,” he said, “ it’s time the boy was abed if 
he’s to make an early start. Kiss him good-night 
and let him go.” 

At that Mother Peaspod threw her arms about 
the young fairy’s neck, holding him close to her. 
He felt a tear trickle down his neck and tickle him. 
“ Don’t cry, mother dear,” he whispered. “ When 
I come home knowing all about magic you ’ll be 
glad I went.” 

“ Perhaps so,” wept the mother, “ but it’s hard 
to have my little son leave the old hollow.” 

[ 19 ] 


In the Green Forest 

Then they all kissed the boy and separated for 
the night. 

It was a long time though before Red Cap could 
get to sleep. He rolled and tossed in the walnut- 
shell bed, thinking and thinking of how fine it 
would be to start out into the world for himself. 
He felt as though the morning would never 
come. 


[ 20 ] 


CHAPTER III 


THE ELF AND THE FAIRY MEET WITH AN 
ADVENTURE 

I N spite of its having been so late before he 
went to sleep, Red Cap was awake the next 
day at the very earliest peep of dawn. Not 
earlier than his mother, however. He could 
hear her speaking softly to Father Peaspod, and 
reminding him that their boy was to set off on his 
travels that day, and that he must get up if he 
would say good-bye to the lad. 

The forest was still hazy with the dawning as 
the fairies appeared at the knot-hole. Red Cap had 
his scrip hung over his shoulder. It was heavy 
with the good things his mother had packed up 
for him. Upon his breast the talisman glittered 
in the early light. 

His mother threw her arms about him and kissed 
him. The father too kissed him upon the forehead. 
Old Grandaddy Dandelion was still asleep, so Red 
Cap left his good-bye for him. Then with a last 

[ 2i ] 


In the Green Forest 

smile for his mother, he sprang lightly from the 
knot-hole and flew away through the greenness of 
the forest with Buzzfuzz at his heels. 

His first flight, however, was not far; only to 
the hickory tree where the elf lived. 

Alighting there, Red Cap called loudly, “Night¬ 
shade, Nightshade! Are you still asleep? ” 

He heard a stir and rustling within the tree and 
then a sleepy voice answered, “ Who are you ? 
What do you want?” 

“ It’s Red Cap. Have you forgotten that we are 
to start on our journey to-day?” 

“ Oh, Red Cap ! but it’s too early to start yet.” 

“ Not a bit of it. Waken up lazy-bones. We 
ought to have been off before this.” 

Presently Nightshade appeared rubbing the sleep 
from his eyes and still grumbling. “ What ’syour 
hurry, anyway ? There ’s no need of our starting off 
in the middle of the night, when we have a whole 
season before us.” Gripper, following close to his 
master, looked just as cross and sleepy as the elf. 

“Never mind,” answered Red Cap. “When 
I ’m going anywhere I believe in starting early, 
but if you don’t want to come now you can follow 
when you choose.” 

That brought Nightshade to his senses. “ Oh, 

[ 22 ] 


An Adventure 


all right. It does n’t make any difference to me. 
I can start just as early as you. Just wait a 
minute.” He plunged his hands into a large drop 
of dew on a leaf near by, and after washing his 
face he seemed wide awake and in a better humor. 

“ Where away first ? ” he asked. 

“ Oh, to the stream ; ” and Red Cap told Night¬ 
shade the directions he had received from his 
grandfather. 

“ All right, I ’m ready,” the elf responded. 

It had been decided the day before, when the elf and 
the fairy had talked over the journey, that it would 
be better to begin by flying, only walking when 
their wings grew too tired to carry them further. 

Now as they launched themselves out into the 
cool morning air, Red Cap felt so fresh and happy 
that he turned three somersaults without stopping. 
Coming up a little dizzy he hung lightly in the 
air, his wings making a quiver about him like 
the wings of a humming-bird. “ That’s right,” 
grumbled Nightshade. “Tire yourself all out 
before we start.” 

Red Cap, however, only laughed merrily, and 
darted away toward the brook so swiftly that the 
elf had much ado to keep up with him. 

Early as it was when they reached the edge of 

f 23 ] 


In the Green Forest 

the stream, they found some busy housewife from 
a neighboring tree had already been there. On a 
spider-web line, stretched from an ironweed to a 
Solomon’s-seal, was hung a row of tiny clothes 
she had been washing in the brook. Nobody was 
in sight, however; perhaps she was already at 
breakfast, early as it was. 

Nightshade, who was a greedy elf, would have 
liked to stop and see, and perhaps get invited 
to join her at her meal, but Red Cap reminded 
him that they had planned to eat their breakfasts 
at a grassy open some distance up the stream ; 
an open well known to them, where the fairies 
went sometimes to dance in fairy rings. 

When they reached that spot they found the 
grass spread thickly all about with what looked 
like spiders-webs, but the two companions knew 
it to be fairy linen spread out there to bleach 
in the dew and moonlight of the night before. 
Everything was drenched with dew and there 
was still a chill in the early air. 

The two travellers looked about until they found 
where a leaf had fallen. They caught it by its 
edges and shoved it aside, and the ground under 
it was dry. There they snuggled down and made 
ready to break their fast. 

[ 24 ] 


An Adventure 


Red Cap unslung the bag he had been carrying 
at his back, and set out the food his mother had 
packed for him. Nightshades eyes sparkled as 
he saw all the good things. There were tender 
slices cut from a cold grasshoppers thigh; there 
was some wal¬ 
nut powder to 
eat with it, 
and a bottle 
full of honey 
milk, milked 
the night be¬ 
fore from Fa¬ 
ther Peaspod’s 
herd of aph¬ 
ides, and put 
up for the re- 

f reshment O f “ se * out th* f ooc t tits mother had 

packed for him ." 

the travellers. 

Besides this, fast as they had flown, Buzzfuzz had 
managed to gather a supply of bee bread, so they 
had that too. 

They made a fine breakfast while the sky above 
the forest slowly brightened, and the chill faded 
from the air. 

The good meal made them lazy, and they decided 

[ 25 1 





In the Green Forest 

to rest awhile before journeying further. They 
stretched themselves at ease, blinking up at the 
grass-blades that arched over them, and at the 
great branches beyond, and as they rested they 
talked of all the wonderful things they would 
do, and be, after they had learned everything 
about magic. 

This open was the furthest place Red Cap had 
ever journeyed to; Nightshade had never come 
far in this direction, either, and so after a while, 
when they had packed the remainder of the feast in 
the bag and resumed their journey, it was through 
an unknown country that they flew. 

When they had gone some distance, and the 
morning had slipped well on towards noon, they 
saw a cardinal bird flash through the leaves before 
them like a scarlet flame. “ We must be near some 
human beings’ houses,” said Nightshade. 

“Why? What makes you think that?” 

“ Because you hardly ever see one of those big 
red birds except near houses.” 

“ I Ve always wished I could see a human being. 
Father Peaspod’s seen lots of ’em. He says they 
look just like us only they’re big; as big as bushes.” 

“ Bigger than that. You come with me and I ’ll 
show you some.” 


[ 26 ] 


An Adventure 


“ They won’t hurt us, will they ? ” asked Red Cap, 
hanging back a little. 

“No ; they won’t hurt us, but we’ve got to keep 
out of sight. You can easily do that, though, 
they ’re so stupid about seeing things. Can’t you 
smell their fires and cooking now?” 

“ Yes ; I did n’t know what the smell was. I don’t 
like it.” 

“No, they’re big, coarse things, but come 
on.” 

The fairies flew on and presently found them¬ 
selves on the edge of a clearing. Two or three 
houses were there, and the smoke from them rose 
thin and gray against the trees. 

“ Are those the human beings ? ” asked Red 
Cap, staring at the houses with all his eyes. 

“No, stupid, of course not; but there are two 
right now.” The elf pointed as he spoke toward 
the door of a house at which had appeared a 
little girl leading a smaller child by the hand. 

“ My ! are n’t they big?” cried the fairy. 

“Big! Why those are only little ones. I’ve 
seen some more than twice as big as those. Look! 
there’s one just coming out.” The mother of 
the children had appeared behind them in the 
door-way. 


[ 27 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ That is big! But I like the little ones best. 
They ’re coming this way. I wish I could see them 
closer.” 

“ Well you can, only be sure they don’t see 
you.” 

The children were picking flowers as they came: 
daisies, buttercups, clovers, and other summer 
flowers that grew in the clearing. They were com¬ 
ing over towards where the fairies were. “ Don’t 
go out of sight, children,” called the mother, and 
the little girl called back, “No, ma’am.” 

They came nearer and nearer. “ We’d better 
hide now,” whispered Nightshade, and so he and 
his bee slipped down into one flower, while Red 
Cap and Buzzfuzz hid in another. Red Cap was 
so much interested in the children, however, that 
he could not help peeping out over the edge to see 
what they would do. The little girl was talking 
to the baby as they came. 

“Look, baby; see all the pretty flowers. Shall 
sister make baby a pretty wreath ? ” 

“ Ess,” said baby. 

“ So many pretty flowers,” and the busy sister 
caught hold of the very branch of fox-gloves in one 
of which Nightshade and his bee were hiding. 
Red Cap gave a gasp. At the same moment 

[ 28 ] 


An Adventure 


Gripper shot forth from the flower and struck 
against the child’s hand. “ Oh! ” she cried, and 
threw the flower from her, fearing she would be 
stung. 

Red Cap was so excited that he quite forgot 
himself, and raised himself half out of the flower 
to see what was going to become of the elf. 

At the same moment the eyes of the little girl 
fell upon him, and she gave a cry, this time of 
wonder. Suddenly the fairy recollected himself 
and dropped down into the flower and out of sight. 
As he did so the little girl nipped the opening of 
the flower together and held it so that Red Cap 
was shut in. Then she broke it from the stalk. 
“ Oh, baby, baby,” she shrieked in her excitement, 
“ Sister’s caught one.” 

“What Sister taught? ” asked the little one. 

“ A fairy ! A real live fairy! Oh, baby, baby! ” 
and the little girl ran toward her home as fast as 
she could. 

Meanwhile the frightened fairy cuddled deep 
down in the flower, wondering what was going 
to happen to him now. He squeezed so far down 
that Buzzfuzz was forced up above him toward 
the opening of the blossom. 

Red Cap was shaken up and down and then 

[ 2 9 ] 


In the Green Forest 

came a big jolt. That was when the little girl 
went up the step into the house. “ Mother! 
Mother!” she shrieked in such excitement that the 
mother came running, fearing her little daughter 
was hurt. 

“ What is it, my child? What s the matter? ” 

“ Oh, I Ve caught a fairy.” 

“ A fairy ! What nonsense is this ? I thought 
you were hurt.” 

“No, it is a fairy. I saw him in the flower and 
I caught him. I know it s a fairy. I can feel 
him moving inside.” 

“It was a bee, child, or a grasshopper; your 
mind is always running on fairies. How often 
have I told you that there are no such things.” 

But the little girl knew she had seen it. Then 
the mother took the flower from her and very care¬ 
fully opened it just a crack. What she saw was 
only the head of Buzzfuzz poked up close to the 
crack. “ Now you see,” she said, “ it is only a bee.” 

She held it so the little girl could see. As the 
child peered in, the joyous excitement faded from 
her face; her lip trembled, and her eyes filled with 
tears. “ I did think it was a fairy,” she said. “ I 
saw it I ’m sure. Maybe it changed itself into 
a bee.” 


[ 30 ] 


An Adventure 


The mother smiled. “ Shall we let the bee 
fairy go? ” she asked. “ I think he would like to 
get out.” 

“ Oh, yes ; he might as well go,” said the child 
sadly. 

The mother took away her fingers and the flower 
opened. Away flew Buzzfuzz, booming as he went, 
and away after him shot Red Cap like a flash of 
light. “ Oh, mother, mother,” he heard the child 
cry, “ it was a fairy,” and then he was out of hear¬ 
ing, nor did he stop until he found himself deep in 
the forest again, and out of sight of the clearing. 


* 


[ 31 l 


CHAPTER IV 


HOW RED CAP AND NIGHTSHADE SAVED THE EGGS 

“ "W* WT "TTELL you’re a pretty one,” cried 
^ / Nightshade who had been watch- 

ing for Red Cap from the edge 
" * of the open, and had followed him 

into the woods. “What made you stand up in the 
flower that way, so the human could see you ? ” 

“ I did n’t know what was going to happen to you 
when she threw the flower away,” said the fairy. 

“Well, if you ’re going to act that way we might 
as well turn back right now, for we ’ll be sure to 
get caught.” 

Red Cap promised that he would not be so 
thoughtless again, so they continued their journey, 
Nightshade still grumbling to himself. 

Almost the whole day they flew, for they found 
the walking slow and rough work, and both feet 
and wings were weary by the time they reached 
an open glade. As the light was failing they 
decided to camp there for the night. 

[ 32 ] 


How They Saved the Eggs 

They were almost too tired to eat, though Buzz- 
fuzz brought them some delicious bee-bread quite 
different from anything they had tasted before. 
He must have found some new variety of flower. 

“ I don’t think your Gripper is of much use/’ 
said Red Cap. “ He never seems to bring you 
anything.” 

“ Yes he does, too,” answered Nightshade. “ Just 
you wait until to-morrow and I ’ll have him catch 
us a dinner.” 

“ Catch /” cried Red Cap. “ How do you mean 
catch ? ” 

“ Oh, wait and you ’ll see.” 

Red Cap was really too tired to feel very curious, 
so the two travellers crawled under a large leaf that 
made a convenient tent close by, and were soon 
fast asleep. 

Just as he was dozing off, Red Cap felt Buzz- 
fuzz snuggle down close beside him ; he rested his 
cheek against the bee’s soft fur, and it felt homey 
and comfortable. He thought of the hollow in the 
old white oak and wondered dreamily whether 
Father Peaspod had caught a new bee, and then 
in a moment he thought of nothing at all, for he 
was fast asleep. 

The travellers slept late the next morning. Red 

3 [ 33 ] 


In the Green Forest 

Cap awoke first, disturbed by a confused sense that 
some one was scolding at him. As he became 
wider awake he knew that the sound he heard was 
not a scolding voice, but the crying of some bird 
outside. He could tell by the sound that it was 
not only in distress, but in fear and anger as well. 

He leaned over and shook Nightshade, who was 
still asleep. “ Let me alone,” cried the elf, without 
opening his eyes. “ Let me alone. I ’m going to 
tie it by the tail.” 

“Nightshade! Nightshade!” cried Red Cap. 

Then the elf sat up and looked about him. 
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “ I thought I’d 
caught a long green caterpillar and you wanted me 
to tie it by the head, but it had teeth and was going 
to bite me.” 

“ Listen,” said Red Cap. “ There’s some bird 
in trouble out there. Let’s go and see what it is.” 

“What for? it’s none of our business.” 

“ But maybe we could help it.” 

Red Cap crawled out from under the leaf, followed 
after a moment by Nightshade. 

As they came from the shadow of their tent, 
into the brightness of the morning outside and 
looked about them, they very soon saw what the 
trouble was. 


[ 34 ] 


How They Saved the Eggs 

In a bush high overhead a warbler had built its 
nest and laid its eggs. A small sized snake was 
looping and writhing up toward this nest, thinking 
no doubt, to make a fine breakfast on what it would 
find there. The frightened mother and father birds 
were fluttering wildly about, now striking at the 
snake with their wings, now darting away as 
it shot out its forked tongue at them. 

Though the snake was small, it looked as big 
as a dragon to the fairy and the elf. 

On the top of the leaf tent, Gripper was calmly 
sitting and watching the fight. 

“ Oh, those poor birds,” cried Red Cap. “What 
trouble they ’re in.” 

“Well, it’s none of our business,” Nightshade 
repeated. 

“ But it is our business, for maybe we can help 
them.” 

“Why should we do that? We might get into 
trouble.” 

“ I’m going to see what I can do, anyway.” 

Red Cap spread his wings (they were still some¬ 
what stiff from his travels of the day before) and 
flew swiftly up to the edge of the nest. 

As he alighted there and looked down into the 
great round hollow he saw it held four beautifully 
[ 35 ] 


In the Green Forest 


shaped, speckled eggs. It seemed, indeed, a pity 
that such pretty things should serve no better 
purpose than to be a breakfast for a snake. 

Glancing around Red Cap saw that the reptile 
was still writhing slowly up the bush and nearer 
and nearer to the nest in spite of the parent 
birds. 

“ Nightshade, Nightshade,” he called sharply, 
“ come up here.” 

Somewhat unwillingly the elf spread his wings 
and flew up beside Red Cap. “Well, what is 
it?” 

“ Look down there in the nest. Are n’t those 
pretty ? ” 

“ They are pretty,” the elf admitted. 

“ How do you think we could save them ? ” 

“ We can’t.” 

“Yes, we must. Think of some way. Quick !” 

“ Maybe we might carry them away.” 

“ Oh, yes; let us try. Perhaps we can save one 
or two at any rate.” Red Cap jumped down into 
the nest, and getting both arms around one of the 
eggs, he managed to hoist it upon his shoulder. 
Nightshade did the same. “ Where shall we take 
them?” gasped the fairy. 

“To the nearest tree.” 

[ 36 ] 



“ Staying down at him with cruel, unblinking 
eyes, was the head of the snake.” 











































































How They Saved the Eggs 

They had to climb up to the edge of the nest 
with their loads so as to get a good start for their 
flight. 

The mother bird caught sight of them. “ Look, 
look! ” she shrieked to her mate. 

“We’re only saving them for you,” cried Red 
Cap; “we’ll bring them back.” 

The birds seemed to understand immediately, 
and returned to their attack on the snake. 

“ There’s a good tree to carry them to,” said 
Red Cap, nodding toward a broad boughed birch. 

“All right,” Nightshade agreed. 

The two flew heavily over to the tree, and, after 
looking it over, soon found a little hollow where 
they could safely lay the eggs. Then they darted 
back to get the others. 

Nightshade was older and stronger than Red 
Cap, and so it happened that he had shouldered 
his second egg and started with it toward the tree, 
while the fairy was still toiling up the side of the 
nest. Suddenly a shadow fell upon Red Cap. 
He glanced up and then gave such a start that 
the egg nearly slipped from his hold; there, close 
above him, staring down at him with cruel, un¬ 
blinking eyes was the head of the snake. 

Red Cap shrank back into the nest, and laying 

[ 37 1 


In the Green Forest 


down the egg cowered over it wondering whether 
he should make a dart past the snake and so try 
to escape, or whether he should stay and defend 
his burden. 

At that moment there was a humming sound, 
and Buzzfuzz alighted just above on the edge of 
the nest. Red Cap could tell by the sound he 
made and by the quivering of his wings that he 
was very angry. A sudden thought filled the fairy 
with hope. “At him! At him, good Buzzfuzz,” 
he cried. The bee rose with an angry hum. “ At 
him, old fellow,” called Red Cap again. 

Then the bee darted at the snake, striking at 
it with its sting. The serpent reared its head, 
hissing. Again and again the brave bee darted at 
it, now on this side, now on that, cheered on by 
Red Caps voice. 

The skin of the snake was too tough for it to 
be really stung, but it did not like to have the bee 
darting at it in that way. Neither did it like the 
looks of the fairy that it had seen crouching in 
the nest and looking up at it. 

Slowly, very slowly, it loosened its hold on 
the branches and began to drop down from one 
bough to another, constantly darting out its quiver¬ 
ing tongue. The birds and the bee still followed 

[ 38 1 


How They Saved the Eggs 

and tormented it. At last the snake reached the 
ground, and with a last hiss glided away through 
the grass and was soon lost to sight. 

The two birds did not pursue it further. They 
flew back to the nest and looked anxiously down 
into it. “ Gone! All gone but one,” wailed the 
mother bird. 

“ But they 're safe; quite safe,” Red Cap made 
haste to assure her. “ Nightshade and I just 
carried them away for safety, and we he going to 
bring them back.” 

“ Where are they ? ” asked the father bird. 

“ I ’ll show you ; ” and Red Cap flew away toward 
the beech tree followed closely by the birds. 

When they reached the hollow where the eggs 
had been put they found Nightshade already there. 
He looked at them somewhat queerly. There 
were only two eggs there. “ What did you do with 
the other ? ” asked Red Cap. 

Nightshade hesitated. Then he swallowed once 
or twice. “ I dropped it,” he confessed at last. 

“ Dropped it! ” cried the mother bird. “ Alas ! 
alas! my beautiful egg. What good did it do to 
carry it out of the snakes reach just to have it 
broken.” 

“Tut! tut! my dear,” said the father bird. 

[ 39 ] 


In the Green Forest 


“ Is n’t that rather ungrateful? Its very bad to 
have one of the eggs broken no doubt; but just 
think, if it hadn’t been for these fairies and 
their bee, it might have been all four instead of 
one.” 

“ But here are these eggs over here, and one in 
the nest,” the mother still lamented, “ and what are 
we to do about that? Dear knows I’m willing to 
sit day and night; but part here and part there,— 
with all the good will in the world I can’t sit on 
both places at the same time.” 

“ But the fairies brought them here and no 
doubt they mean to carry them back again; ” and 
the father bird cocked his head on one side and 
looked enquiringly at the wee folk with his bright 
black eyes. 

“ Oh, yes, we meant to, of course,” Red Cap 
hastened to assure him. 

“Well! I hope they’ll be more careful about 
carrying them back than they were about bringing 
them,” said the mother bird sadly. 

“We will; we ’ll be very very careful, won’t we, 
Nightshade?” Red Cap felt terribly about the 
broken egg even if he had n’t done it himself. 

Nightshade muttered something in his throat, 
and then the two shouldered their burdens once 

[ 40 ] 


How They Saved the Eggs 

more and carried them slowly and carefully back 
to the nest. 

As soon as the eggs were laid in it the mother 
bird hopped down and settled herself upon them. 
Her glossy feathers filled the nest up to the brim. 
Only her head appeared above the edge, and her 
tail stuck out in the opposite direction. “ How 
strange and empty it feels,” she said with a sigh, 
“to have only three eggs under one instead of four.” 

The father bird seemed somewhat ashamed of 
his mate’s lack of gratitude. He thanked the two 
travellers again and again, particularly Red Cap, 
and begged them to stay and pay him and his 
mate a visit. 

The travellers refused, however, saying that they 
must be journeying on; they had already lingered 
too long. Then Red Cap spoke of why they were 
going. That they were on the way to the land of 
enchantment to find one who would teach them 
magic. 

“ Is that so! ” cried the bird with interest. “ Do 
you know we used to have a nest on the very 
borders of that country. You remember, my dear, 
don’t you ? ” and he turned to his mate. 

“Remember what?” asked the ladybird. She 
had not been listening to the conversation. 

[ 4i ] 


In the Green Forest 

“That year we had a nest on the edge of the 
land of enchantment. ,, 

“ Remember? Of course I do. I never knew a 
place where there were so few worms or of such 
a poor quality.” 

“ That is true. But I was going to tell our 
friends here something about it. I suppose you ’re 
following up the stream, are n’t you ? ” 

They told him they were. 

“Well, when you reach its source you’ll find it 
starts from a nutshell, and beyond that nutshell 
you will see a hedge, and beyond that hedge are 
two paths. The one path leads to the right and 
the other to the left. There is magic at the end 
of each of them, but it is the right hand path that 
you must take, for that leads you to the Sun 
Queen, and all her magic is white. The left hand 
path leads to the Shadow Mother, and her magic 
is an ill thing, for it is all black. Be sure you 
remember; the road to the right and not the left.” 

“ Had n’t you better tell them about eating and 
drinking too? ” the warbler’s wife suggested. 

“ I suppose it would do no harm to tell them, 
though as long as they keep to the right they ’re 
all safe anyway. What she means is this,” the 
sparrow went on, turning again to the two travel- 

[ 42 ] 


How They Saved the Eggs 

lers; “ even if people do get confused and go to 
the left the magic there can have no real power 
over them as long as they eat and drink only what 
they carry with them from the parting of the ways. 
It might be as well for you to remember that.” 

“ But how do you know so much about it, any¬ 
way?” asked Nightshade. 

“ Oh, when we had our nest near there I used to 
see many a traveller making his choice of the way. 
I Ve even taken some little flights up the two 
paths myself just to see what they were like, and 
what was happening there. Oh, yes, you may trust 
me; I know what I ’m talking about.” 

Red Cap said he was sure of it, and thanked the 
warbler gratefully for his advice. 

“ It’s little enough to do after the way you Ve 
helped us,” answered the bird. 

Then they all said good-bye, and the travellers 
cheerfully took up their journey again, winging on 
up the stream in search of its source. 


[ 43 ] 


CHAPTER V 


THE TURN TO THE LEFT 

HEN the fairy and the elf stopped 
that day for their noon-time rest, 
Red Cap reminded Nightshade that 
he had promised that Gripper should 



“ catch ” them their dinner. 

“ Oh, he can do it, fast enough,” said the elf. 

“ Then why does n’t he ? ” 

“ I have n’t told him to yet.” 

“ Then you’d better tell him. He has n’t brought 
us a thing, so far. Poor old Buzzfuzz has had to 
do all the work, and it’s Gripper’s turn.” 

Thus urged, Nightshade turned and with his foot 
stirred up his bee as it sat beside him. “Hie on, Grip¬ 
per! ” he said. “Hie on, old fellow! Go fetch it.” 

Gripper spread his wings and started off will¬ 
ingly enough. He came back before long, bringing 
with him a large fly which he had caught, and laid 
it at his master’s feet. 

“A fly!” cried Red Cap with disgust. “No 
wonder you called it catching us something.” 

“It ain’t bad when it’s roasted,” said the elf, but 
he looked ashamed. 


[ 44 ] 


The Turn to the Left 

“ Maybe not, but I’d rather live on acorns all my 
life than touch a fly,” retorted Red Cap; and, indeed 
none but the very lowest, poorest class of fairies 
would ever think of using flies or beetles for food. 

Nothing more was said about it. Nightshade, as 
if by accident, pushed a leaf over the fly so that it 
lay hidden from sight, and the two companions 
dined together on bee-bread washed down by an 
acorn-cup of water, for all the provisions that 
Mother Peaspod had put up for them were gone. 
Later on they found a partridge berry, and ate part 
of that, but it was rather tasteless. 

All that day as they journeyed on, the stream 
kept growing narrower. The forest became more 
dense and lofty. Instead of grass the ground 
was now covered with deep emerald green mosses, 
some as smooth as velvet, some spiked all over 
with what looked like miniature trees. The ground 
was sodden and marshy, too. 

On account of this dampness the travellers 
camped for the night in the hollow of an old tree. 
It was not a very comfortable place, for it was 
dusty and musty, and Nightshade complained the 
next morning that he had not slept a wink on 
account of the stirring of the worms in the rotten 
wood. This could hardly have been the case, 
[ 45 ] 


In the Green Forest 


however, as Red Cap had been awakened two or 
three times by the elfs snoring. 

They had two more days of rather uncomfortable 
travelling. Then on the third morning, Nightshade, 
who was flying ahead, suddenly stopped. “ Why, 
Red Cap,” he called back, “I’ve lost the stream.” 

But the fairy had dropped to the ground, and 
was eagerly dragging 
aside some rotting leaves. 
He answered the elf with 
a glad shout; “ Night¬ 
shade! Nightshade! I’ve 
found it ; 
here’s the 
nutshell.” 

And, indeed, they had 
at last reached the source 
of the stream. Its first 
drops trickled, thin and clear, from a hole in the side 
of a nut .which lay almost hidden among the leaves. 

Nightshade came hastening back, while Red 
Cap took off his hat, and kneeling down put his 
mouth to the thread of water. He drank long and 
deeply, and then arose wiping his mouth, and drew 
a long breath. He seemed to have drunk in fresh 
life and energy with the water. He looked at the 

[ 46 ] 



“ . . . kneeling down , put his mouth to 
the thread of water” 


The Turn to the Left 

elf with shining eyes. “Well,” he said, “the bird 
knew what he was talking about. The stream 
did come from a nutshell. Now the next thing 
we want to do is to find the two roads.” 

This was not a difficult task. Not far beyond 
where they stood was a hedge of tangled bushes 
and brambles. Nightshade and Red Cap flew to 
the top of it, and poising on a leaf they looked and 
looked in silence. 

There, indeed, were the two paths starting out 
from the hedge just as the warbler had said, one 
leading to the right and one to the left, but how 
different were those paths. 

“ Nightshade,” said the fairy, after some minutes 
had passed, “ did that bird tell us to take the right 
hand path ?” 

“ If he did he did n’t know what he was talking 
about,” answered the elf. 

It did, indeed, seem difficult to believe that of 
the two roads before them any one should dream 
of taking the one that led to the right when they 
might choose the other. For the right hand path 
was a narrow, stony path, so beset with briers, so 
shut in by branches, that birds, or even fairies, 
would find it difficult to fly there. There were 
many places where the two companions would be 
[ 47 ] 


In the Green Forest 

obliged to creep between the thorns, and even then 
it would be at the risk of tearing their wings, — 
that is, if they took that path. 

On the other hand, the way leading toward the 
left was a broad, smooth road, and very pleasant 
to the sight. Lights and shadows wavered across 
it; the branches arched high overhead, and from 
them were festooned vines bearing strange and 
brilliant flowers. 

“ I’m almost sure he said the right hand path,” 
Red Cap murmured thoughtfully. 

“ And I ’m quite sure that if he did he made a 
mistake. Why, look for yourself. Anyway, I ’m 
not perfectly sure he did n't just tell us to take the 
right way, not the right hand one, and the one 
that turns to the left looks as though it were the 
right one.” 

Red Cap wavered. “ Maybe that was it.” 

“ Anyway, I say to take the one that looks the 
best. Then if we find it’s the wrong one we can 
always turn back.” 

That seemed true enough, and after a little more 
talk Red Cap allowed himself to be persuaded that 
it would be foolishness to trust themselves entirely 
to what the warbler might have said instead of to 
their own common sense. 

[ 48 ] 


The Turn to the Left 

“ But there’s no use standing here arguing about 
it,” cried Nightshade at last. “ Follow me, and if 
it turns out to be the wrong way I ’ll promise to 
get you back here all safe.” So saying he launched 
himself from the leaf and flew away down the left 
hand path, followed, after a moment of indecision, 
by the fairy. 

It was, indeed, a pleasant way that they had 
chosen. Overhead arched the great green boughs. 
The air was full of the rich perfume of the flowers. 
The road, too, led somewhat down hill, and that 
made the flying all the easier. 

After a time, however, the travellers began to 
tire of the heavy smell of the flowers. It made 
them feel rather breathless. The sunlight that 
came between the branches was pale; there was 
a strange stillness over everything, so that at last 
Red Cap and Nightshade found themselves talking 
to each other in whispers, as though they were 
afraid of being overheard. Not a bird nor butterfly 
nor living thing was to be seen except the two 
bees and their own selves. 

They had travelled a long distance in this way 
when the silence was broken by a voice that hailed 
them. “ Hello, you two flying up there, where are 
you going so fast? 

4 


t 49 ] 


In the Green Forest 

They looked around, and there, just back of them 
and below, stood a tall figure dressed all in gray 
from top to toe. At first they thought it was a 
woman, for the garments fell to the feet, but then 
they saw that what they had taken for a gray scarf 
wound about her throat was really a filmy gray 
beard, so they knew it must be a man. It seemed 
strange they should have flown past without notic¬ 
ing him, though in color he was not unlike the 
shadows that fell across the path. 

“ Hello!” answered the elf and the fairy; and 
Red Cap murmured to Nightshade, “ Now we can 
ask and find out whether we ’re on the right road.” 

They flew down, and alighting in the pathway 
waited for the stranger to catch up with them, 
which he soon did, walking with long, silent strides. 

“We all seem to be journeying in the same 
direction,” he said, as he came up to where they 
stood. “If you’re not in too much of a hurry we 
might as well trudge on together.” 

Red Cap answered that they were in a great 
hurry, and that they had only stopped to ask him 
whether they were on the right road. That they 
were journeying out into the world in search of 
magic, but they had come to a place where two 
paths started out in different directions, and they 

[ 50 ] 


The Turn to the Left 

had not been quite sure which was the better one 
to take. 

“ Oh, if it s magic you re in search of,” said the 
stranger, “ you could n’t have come to a better place 
than this. Why, it’s almost all magic here. I Ve 
never taken the trouble to really study it myself,— 
had no need to; just living here was enough. It 
puts magic into everything. Take my cap, for 
instance.” He took it off and handed it first to 
one and then to the other. “ It’s only a gray cap, 
you see, nothing more nor less.” 

Yes, they saw that. 

“ Now watch ! ” So saying, he crumpled up the 
cap and held it in his two hands, muttering to him¬ 
self. Suddenly he threw it from him into the air. 
“ Off with you, leather-wings ; fly, fly ! ” he cried ; 
and then the cap was no longer a cap but a great 
gray bat that circled around and round their heads 
with noiseless wings, and then flitted away, on 
down the path before them. 

The stranger clapped his hands — 

“ Bat, bat, 

Change into a hat,” 

he called. 

Immediately the leather-wings dropped to the 
ground, and lay there a motionless gray heap. 

L 5i ] 


In the Green Forest 


The stranger advanced to it, followed by Red 
Cap and Nightshade, and picked it up. “ Nothing 
but a cap, you see,” he said, running his hand up 
into the peak of it and then putting it on his head. 

Nightshade was filled with delight and admira¬ 
tion. “ That’s a fine trick,” he cried. “ How do 
you do it? Won’t you show me how?” and he 
caught his own cap from his head and held it out 
to the stranger. 

But the gray man shook his head. “ We don’t 
give lessons for nothing,” he said, “ even here. Of 
course if you stay here a long, long time as I have, 
you ’ll be able to do it anyway, but if you ’re in a 
hurry as you say, we might make a bargain. Give 
me something to make it worth my while, and I ’ll 
teach you all you ’ll need to know in less than an 
hour.” 

The elf’s face fell. “ But I have n’t anything to 
give,” he said. “ Nothing in the world but the 
clothes I stand in and my old bee Gripper. Have 
you anything, Red Cap ? ” 

The fairy shook his head. He looked doubt¬ 
fully upon the stranger. There was something 
about the trick that pleased him but little. 

“ Surely you must have something,” said the 
gray man. “ For instance, what is that thing 

[ 52 ] 



“ ‘ A'o matter why I want ithe cried , 'but 
have it / m ust and shall? ” 


















% 
















The Turn to the Left 

hanging from your neck?” and he pointed to Red 
Cap’s talisman. “It doesn’t look like much, but 
I’ve taken a fancy to you both, and if you give 
me that trinket I ’ll show you the greatest magic 
that I know.” 

“Good!” cried Nightshade clapping his hands. 
“You ’ll do it, won’t you, Red Cap?” 

But the fairy clasped his talisman with a startled 
look. “No, no,” he said. “I cannot part with 
this.” 

“But, Red Cap, just think! To learn all the 
magic we want when we’ve really barely started ! 
And then we can go straight home again, and how 
surprised every one will be.” 

Red Cap only shook his head. “ I can’t give up 
my talisman.” 

“ But when you know magic you can make your¬ 
self another talisman,” said the stranger smoothly. 
“ A hundred of them if you like.” 

A bright idea struck the fairy. “ Then why 
don’t you make one for yourself? Why should 
you want mine ? ” 

At that the smile left the stranger’s face. It 
grew dark and threatening. “No matter why I 
want it,” he cried, “ but have it I must and shall. 
Will you give it me in fair exchange, or must I 
[ 53 ] 


In the Green Forest 

take it from you?” and he shot out a lean and 
shadowy hand toward the talisman. 

Nightshade shrank back with a cry, but Red 
Cap only grasped the jewel tighter. “Neither,” 
he cried. “ It s mine and you shall not have 
it.” 

At that the stranger clapped his hands, and 
immediately from all around, from trees, from 
rocks and bushes, came hurrying a great multi¬ 
tude of shadowy figures, all dressed in long gray 
garments like the strangers. Before the two 
travellers could think of taking to their wings, 
they were surrounded and overshadowed by the 
tall figures. “Take that from him,” cried the 
stranger fiercely, pointing to the talisman that 
shone on Red Caps breast. 

“Oh, Red Cap, give it to him! Give it to him ! ” 
cried Nightshade, in wild terror. “Let him have 
it.” 

“No, I will not,” cried the fairy. “ I will never 
give it up.” 

Something dark seemed to come over his eyes. 
Then in a twinkling all was clear again. Red Cap 
and Nightshade stood alone in the forest. They 
looked about them, scarcely believing their own 
eyes. Gone was the stranger; gone were all the 
[ 54 ] 


The Turn to the Left 

gray figures. There was nothing left to show that 
they had ever been there. “Wh—where have 
they gone?” stammered Nightshade. 

Before Red Cap could answer from around the 
turn of the road before them came a sound of 
music, sweet and gay; voices were singing, and 
then there was a burst of laughter. 

The elf caught Red Cap by the hand. “ Come ! 
Come!” he cried. “I hear people further on. 
Let us go find them before the gray man comes 
back to catch us again.” 

The fairy was nothing loath, and, spreading their 
wings, the two flitted swiftly away from the spot and 
on down the path, still deeper into the forest. 


[ 55 ] 


CHAPTER VI 


MORE MAGIC 

R ED CAP and Nightshade flew without 
pausing, until a sudden turn brought 
them out into an open glade, hedged 
about with flowering bushes. 

The centre of this glade was worn quite bare of 
grass, and on this bare space a number of little 
gnome-like figures were whirling about in a dizzy 
dance. They held hands and danced in a circle 
about a tall and beautiful woman, whom Red Cap 
knew, from the crown upon her head, to be a 
queen. The queen was smiling at them and beat- 
ing time to their dance with a wand which she 
held, and from which the music seemed to come. 

Suddenly her eyes fell upon the two tiny travel¬ 
lers as they hovered in the air watching her. She 
dropped her wand and the music ceased. 

At that the gnomes paused in their dance, and 
all turned their heads and looked in the direction 
in which their queen was gazing. Then the circle 

[ 56 ] 


More Magic 

broke and the queen came gliding smoothly toward 
the two travellers, while all the dancers crowded 
after her in a mass. 

As she drew near she beckoned to Red Cap and 
Nightshade with a sweet smile. “ Come hither and 
tell me who you are who have found us at play in 
our glade,” she said ; “ and whence do you come ? ” 

“ We are an elf and a fairy,” answered Red Cap. 
“ We come from the land beyond the parting of 
the ways. We are travelling out into the world 
to try to find one who will teach us magic.” 

“ Is it so, indeed?” said the queefn, and her voice 
was very sweet and soft. “ We all know more or 
less of magic here. I myself am not altogether 
ignorant in the matter. Even now we were about 
to amuse ourselves with some of it. Come with 
me and you shall join in our sports.” 

So saying the queen turned and led the way 
back to where they had first seen her, followed 
after a moment of hesitation by Red Cap and 
Nightshade. 

When she reached the bare space in the 
centre she paused and turned again to the two 
travellers. “Have you ever played the game of 
‘Ask for what you wish’?” she inquired. 

No, they had never played that. 

[ 57 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ It is one of our best magic games,” said the 
queen; “ I will show you that first.” Then she 
made all sit down in a big circle, for that was the 
way the game began. 

There was some confusion about getting settled 
at first, as every one wanted to sit next the trav¬ 
ellers, and this was, of course, impossible. At last, 
however, all were seated on the ground, and then 
the queen held up her hand for silence. 

Red Cap noticed for the first time that she held 
in her other hand a large gray bag. 

When all was still the queen began moving 
about and stooping here and there to pick up dif¬ 
ferent things from the ground; a stick, a pebble, a 
dried leaf, a lump of earth, — all sorts of things. 
These she put in the bag. When it seemed quite 
full she closed the mouth of it and came over to 
where Red Cap was sitting. “ What would you 
like to have?” she asked. 

Red Cap looked up at her. “What do you 
mean?” he said. 

“ I mean, suppose you were going to have a 
present, anything you would like, what would 
you ask for?” 

Red Cap thought, but he did not seem able to re¬ 
member any of the things he used to wish he 

[ 58 ] 


More Magic 

had. “ I wish,” he said at last, “ that I had a tame 
cricket all saddled and bridled that I could ride.” 

“ Put your hand in the bag and take it;” and the 
queen held the mouth of the bag toward him. 



“ Wondering, Red Cap put in his hand.” 


Wondering, Red Cap put in his hand and drew 
out something that felt like a pebble. When he 
looked at it, however, it suddenly began to grow 
and come alive. It struggled from his hand, and, 

[ 59 ] 









In the Green Forest 

as it touched the ground, it became a handsome 
glossy black cricket with a tiny golden bridle, and 
saddled with the very prettiest little golden saddle 
that ever was seen. It did not seem afraid, but 
stood there very quietly while Red Cap stroked 
and patted it. “That is yours,” said the queen, 
smiling again. 

Then she turned to the figure sitting next to 
Red Cap. “Ask what you wish,” she said. 

“ I would like,” cried the creature eagerly, “ a 
climbing stick so high I could climb right up to 
the sky.” 

“ Put in your hand and take it; ” and the queen 
held the mouth of the bag toward him. 

He put in his hand, but what he took out was 
nothing but a dry twig. He cried out with pleas¬ 
ure, however, and looked just as delighted as 
though he had gotten what he asked for. He 
stuck one end of it in the ground so that it stood 
up straight, and then he began to act as though 
he were climbing up it. At first he seemed 
to be climbing very fast, and kept looking up. 
Then he climbed as though he were getting 
higher. He moved more slowly and cautiously 
and looked down. Once he stood still and shouted 
down toward the ground as though he were speak- 

[ 60 ) 


More Magic 

ing to a crowd far below. “ Look how high I am! 
I’m going to climb all the way up to the sky.” 
The others watched him and laughed. 

When it was Nightshade’s turn he asked for 
something good to eat. What he drew out was 
only a piece of dry leaf, but he began nibbling at 
it with the greatest delight and smacking his lips 
as though he never had tasted anything quite as 
good. 

So it was with each one in the circle. Some 
asked for this, some for that. Each put his hand 
in the bag and drew out something like a stick or 
a stone, and each acted as though he had got just 
what he asked for. Those who had not drawn yet 
looked on and laughed. 

The queen glanced back toward Red Cap. “Why 
don’t you take a ride on your cricket?” she asked. 

“ Well, I think I will,” said the fairy. 

Putting his leg across the saddle he gathered 
up the bridle and whisk! away the cricket went 
with him, swift as the wind and smooth as a 
dream. 

In a moment they were out of the forest alto¬ 
gether. The crowd was left behind. They came 
out into a little fairy scene. There was a green 
stretch of grass as smooth as velvet. In the dis- 
[ 61 ] 


In the Green Forest 


tance was a fairy lake as bright and still as a piece 
of looking-glass, and beyond stood a fairy castle 
all of silver, with domes and turrets that shone 
against the sky. 

Swiftly the cricket sped across the green. He 
passed the lake. Tiny swans were sailing on it 
and arching their white necks. 

Soon they were close to the palace; so close 
that, looking up at the windows, Red Cap saw a 
beautiful little fairy princess leaning from one of 
them and smiling down at him. She did not look 
unlike Bluebell, but she was much more beautiful, 
and she wore a little golden crown upon her head. 

Smiling, she kissed her hand to him. “ Come, 
play with me,” she cried; “ I have been waiting for 
you so long.” Then suddenly she began to laugh 
and clap her hands. 

As she did so a mist came over Red Caps eyes. 
He could no longer see clearly. He put up his 
hands to rub away the mist. He rubbed and 
rubbed his eyes, and all the while he heard the 
princess laughing and clapping her hands. 

Then he looked about him and gave a gasp. 
He was sitting in the circle in the forest exactly 
where he had been before. He was sitting, not on 
the golden saddle on the crickets back, but upon a 
[ 62 ] 


More Magic 

dirty pebble, and it was the queen who was look¬ 
ing at him and laughing and clapping her hands. 
She laughed and laughed until it seemed as 
though she could hardly stand. 

Feeling foolish and ashamed Red Cap slipped 
hastily from the pebble and looked about him. 
All around the circle each one seemed as though 
awakening from a dream ; each one seemed 
ashamed to be caught acting so foolishly. 

Nightshade hastily dropped the bit of dried leaf 
he had been nibbling as though it were hot, and 
glanced guiltily about to see whether any one had 
noticed him. Red Cap asked him afterward what 
he had thought he got from the bag, and he 
said he had thought it was some delicious sort 
of a thing called “ pie ” (he did n’t know how he 
thought of that name for it). It was hot and 
smelled better than anything he had ever eaten, 
and it was full of some soft, sweet stuff that oozed 
out every time he took a bite. He began eating 
it, and then the next thing he knew the queen was 
clapping her hands and laughing, and what he was 
nibbling at was no more nor less than a dried leaf. 

So it must have been with each one; each must 
have thought he drew from the bag just what he 
asked for. 


[ 63 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ And that is the way to play 4 Ask for what you 
wish/ ” said the queen to Red Cap. Then she 
stopped laughing. She turned and waved her 
hand to the rest of the circle. “Now,” she said, 
“ we will have a feast. Do you prepare it. And, 
meanwhile/’ she went on, again turning to Red 
Cap and speaking this time to Nightshade as well, 
“ we will sit here until the table is ready, and you 
shall tell me of how you happened to find your 
way into this land of enchantments.” 

Then Red Cap began and told her all about his 
journey; the queen listened, now and then nodding 
her head, and now and then looking at him queerly 
from the corners of her eyes. 

When he came to the part about the gray man 
and how he had tried to get the talisman, the 
queen’s eyes narrowed. 

“And so you would not give it up,” she said; 
“that was brave and wise of you. Will you let 
me see it?” and she held out her hand. 

“ You may look at it,” answered Red Cap, and he 
held it out toward her, “but I may not take it from 
my neck. I have been told not to do that until I 
am safe at home again.” 

For an instant the smile died away from the 
queen’s face, and she looked at him with a scowl. 

[ 64 1 


More Magic 

Then she began to smile again, and when she 
spoke her voice was as soft and silky as ever. 
“Ah, yes; that also is very wise of you. If you 
have been told not to take it off you must not 
think of doing it. But come, now/’ and she arose; 
“I see the table is spread, and you must join our 
feast; you must be both hungry and thirsty after 
all your journeyings.” So saying, she led the way 
toward the table the gray people had been setting. 

Such a feast! the table groaned under the weight 
of good things; the sweet savor of them filled the 
air and made Nightshade lick his lips. 

The queen seated herself at the head of the table 
and bade Red Cap sit upon her right, and Night¬ 
shade on her left. It was a long table, and after 
they had taken their places all the others who had 
been in the game seated themselves also. 

At every place was a golden plate and a golden 
goblet. The queen gave a sign and immediately, 
without the aid of hands, each one found himself 
served. 

“ Eat, my friends,” said the queen pleasantly, at 
the same time raising a morsel to her lips. 

Nightshade immediately did the same, but Red^ 
Cap paused as he lifted his hand. The warning 
of the friendly warbler flashed into his mind, and 

5 [ 65 ] 


In the Green Forest 

with it came a sudden doubt of the smooth-spoken 
queen. 

Her look was on him and she spoke again. 
“ Why do you not eat? Is our food not to your 
liking ?” 

“ It is not that,” answered Red Cap, “ but there 
was a piece of advice; I was not to eat or drink 
anything while in the land of enchantment; that 
is, nothing but what I brought with me from the 
parting of the ways.” 

“What foolishness ! ” cried Nightshade from the 
other side of the queen. 

“ No, not foolishness;” the queen spoke reprov¬ 
ingly ; “ not foolishness if the advice was from 
one who knew. But I am grieved that you will 
not share our feast.” So saying she began to 
eat. 

Red Cap’s mouth watered. He wondered, in 
spite of what she said, whether he was both fool¬ 
ish and rude to refuse what she offered him. Still 
the words of the warbler stuck in his mind. He 
had yet some checkerberries in his scrip. He 
took one out and began to eat it, but it was dry 
and tasteless in his mouth, with all those good 
things before him. 

The queen now began to talk to him of magic. 

[ 66 ] 


More Magic 

As he listened to her it seemed to him he had 
never before heard any one talk so wisely and 
sweetly. 

At last the feast came to an end. The queen 
made a motion and everything before them was 
instantly cleared away. Then Red Cap saw that 
the table was made entirely of glass so clear you 
could see through it, and of a pale green color. 

“ I will show you another piece of magic,” said 
the queen. 

From the glittering pocket that hung at her side 
she drew out a pinch of greenish powder and scat¬ 
tered it upon the table, at the same time muttering 
some magic words. 

Immediately the powder began to swirl round 
and round as though swept by some breath of 
wind that no one felt. At last it all collected 
in a little heap before the queen. It lay there 
quietly for a moment and then it was disturbed, 
as though something were stirring beneath it. 

Presently from the middle of the heap appeared 
two tiny, tiny green leaves. These rose on a stalk. 
While Red Cap watched, quite fascinated by the 
sight, the stalk grew steadily. Other leaves ap¬ 
peared, and then branches. These branches white- 
ened with blossoms. Then the blossoms fell and 
[ 67 ] 


In the Green Forest 


in their place came budding fruit, green at first, but 
ripening rapidly into a rich and ruddy ripeness. 

There stood a little fruit tree all complete. 

All the while that this was happening the queen 
watched the magic in silence, her elbow on the 
table, her chin in her hand. But when the fruit 
was ripe she reached out her white arm and 



“ There stood a little fruit tree all complete 


plucked one of the rosy globes. Breaking it in 
halves, she handed one part to Red Cap and sank 
her small teeth in the other. “ Is not that magic 
worth the knowing?” she asked. 

The fairy’s eyes and thoughts were so full of 
the wonder of it that, scarcely knowing what he 
did, he took the part the queen offered him and bit 
off a piece. It seemed to fairly melt in his mouth 
with a delicious, unknown flavor. 

[ 68 ] 






More Magic 

Suddenly the warblers warning rushed back 
into his mind, but so beautiful and winning was 
the queen, so delicious the fruit, that he could not 
believe that any harm would come of it. “ This 
was the right way to come, after all,” he assured 
himself, “ and this gracious lady must be the Sun 
Queen. It would seem too rude for me to refuse 
her fruit. The warbler said the Sun Queens magic 
was harmless.” So he swallowed the piece he al¬ 
ready had in his mouth, and bit off another. 

His eyes were still on the tree, and as he looked 
and tasted, the queen kept murmuring in his ear 
something of magic, and of how much she would 
teach him of it. 

After a while the little tree with its glittering 
fruit began to blur to Red Cap’s sight. He could 
no longer understand what the queen was saying. 
He turned to her, and her face looked strange and 
gray; no longer lovely, but curiously like that of 
the tall stranger he had met on the way. 

He was too sleepy to wonder, however; his eye¬ 
lids weighed like lead. He tried to hold them up, 
but in spite of himself they closed over his eyes. 
Then his head fell forward and he sank into a 
deep sleep. 


CHAPTER VII 


IN THE HOUSE OF THE SHADOW MOTHER 

W HEN Red Cap awoke, he could not at 
first think where he was nor what 
had happened to him. 

He sat up and looked about him, 
and the first thing he saw was the queen. She 
was sitting and looking at him, her elbow on her 
knee and her chin in her hand, much as she had 
sat looking at the magic tree; but the smile was 
gone from her face now and she looked withered 
and old. 

From her, Red Cap’s gaze travelled to Night¬ 
shade ; he was all sunken together in a little heap, 
and but half awake. 

All this was very different from the last thing 
that the fairy could remember before he fell asleep. 
Different, too, was everything around him. All the 
gray figures who had been there were gone. The 
forest was no longer gay and bright. A chill wind 
blew, and at its breath some withered leaves came 
swirling down from the great branches far above. 

[ 70 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

“ What has happened ? ” asked Red Cap, press¬ 
ing his hand to his forehead. 

“ So you have awakened at last,” said the queen, 
and as she spoke she arose and stood over him. 
Standing so, she began to grow. She grew, and 
she grew, and she grew, until at last she was as 
large as a human being. Red Cap was frightened, 
and his hand sought his breast for his talisman. 
It was gone. 

“ My talisman! ” he cried, starting to his feet. 
“ Where is it ? ” 

“ Where, indeed ? ” asked the queen, or rather 
the Shadow Mother, for it was she. “ Your talis¬ 
man is now where you will never find it. I took 
it from you while you slept.” 

With these words she drew from under her cloak 
a tumbler made of smoky looking glass. Then, 
with a swift movement, she stooped and scooped up 
the two travellers in it, and there they were. She 
put one hand over the top of the tumbler so that 
they could not fly out, and lifted it to the level of 
her eyes. “ Now, my bold travellers,” she said, 
“you shall go where you will see much magic. 
You shall even be a part of it after I turn you to 
shadows, as I have the others who have come 
this way.” 


[ 7i ] 


In the Green Forest 


Then, still holding her hand over the tumbler, 
she glided away silent and smooth as a shadow, 
while Buzzfuzz and Gripper buzzed about, trying 
vainly to get in through the glass to their 
masters. 

On and on went the Shadow Mother, until at 
last she came to a great gray house. She opened 
the door and went in, for that was her home. 

There she set the tumbler upon a table, and 
lifting her hand from it she began to draw her 
fingers across it from one side to the other. She 
drew them across, and across, and across, many 
times, and each time she did so her fingers left 
strands of gray silk, just the way a spider leaves 
a thread behind him when he weaves. At last the 
top of the tumbler was closed over with a fine 
gray web. 

Then she dropped her hands at her side. 
‘'There!” she said, “ I have you safe now,” and she 
turned carelessly away. 

The moment she was not looking Red Cap flew 
up to the web. He thrust his fingers through it 
and tried to pull its strands apart, but he pulled 
and struggled in vain; it was as tough as steel. 

Dropping down again to the bottom of the tum¬ 
bler he ran to Nightshade and shook him by the 

[ 72 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

shoulder. “ Up, up, Nightshade ! ” he cried. “If 
ever you needed your magic, this is the time. 
Get us out of this tumbler.” 

“ I don’t know any magic,” lamented the elf, 
without raising his head from his knees as he sat 
all sunken together. 

“ Why, yes you do,” cried Red Cap. “ I Ve seen 
you use it myself. I saw you work magic on that 
cocoon so that ever so many things came out of it 
instead of a moth.” 

“That was n’t magic,” answered the elf. “That 
was going to happen, anyhow.” 

“ But it could n’t. What do you mean? ” 

“Oh, don’t you understand?” moaned Night¬ 
shade. “ I had been watching a caterpillar one 
day, and a great long-tailed fly came and stung 
it and left her eggs in it; the caterpillar went on 
and spun his cocoon, but I knew that those eggs 
would soon hatch, and then the fly’s young ones 
would eat the caterpillar. Then don’t you see 
they ’d come out of the cocoon instead of the 
moth? It was going to happen, anyway.” 

“And you really don’t know any magic?” 

“ Not a bit.” 

“ You were just fooling us ? ” 

“ Yes.” 


[ 73 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ Well, then, I think — ” Red Cap did not say 
what he thought. He turned his back on Night¬ 
shade and stared out through the side of the 
tumbler. 

At this moment there was a soft knock at the 
door, and a voice outside called, “ Shadow Mother, 
Shadow Mother, we have brought you a whole 
load of shadow ravellings. Come out and get 
them.” 

The Shadow Mother went to the door and 
opened it. As she did so several shadow dwarfs 
(strange, gray little figures) were swept into the 
room by the draught, just as charred pieces of paper 
are swept along by the draught of a chimney. One 
of them clutched the door-jamb and stopped 
himself there. The others were blown into the 
room and whirled about, catching themselves on 
different pieces of furniture. One laid his .cob¬ 
webby fingers on the edge of the table and clung 
to it. The Shadow Mother went out without 
paying any attention to them, and closed the 
door behind her. 

Presently the gray dwarf, who was clinging to 
the table, saw the tumbler with Red Cap and 
Nightshade in it. He stared and stared, his gog¬ 
gling eyes growing round with interest. “ Come 
[ 74 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

here, you fellows,” he called to the others. “ Here ’re 
those two little things that were at the feast. She’s 
got them in a tumbler now. Won’t they make 
little bits of shadows, though? Not much use 
to her, I should think.” 

The other Shadows began to gather around the 
table. They moved very slowly and cautiously as 
though they were afraid they might get blown 
about again. “ Ugh, but this room is full of 
draughts,” remarked one. 

They all gathered about the table, staring at the 
two captives in the tumbler. 

“ They are little,” said another dwarf. 

“ What do you suppose she’s going to do with 
them?” asked a third. 

“Turn them into shadows, of course.” It was 
the first one who spoke. 

“ Let’s stir them up and see them run,” said a 
fourth. With that he stuck his finger right 
through the web and down into the tumbler. It 
went through the web just as a shadow would, 
without breaking it. He poked first Nightshade 
and then Red Cap with his finger trying to stir 
them up. His finger itself felt like a web, so soft 
and clingy. 

The elf only gave a howl when the finger 

[ 75 ] 


In the Green Forest 

touched him, and crouched the lower, but it made 
Red Cap feel angry as well as frightened to be 
poked in that way. He caught the finger in 
both hands and gave it a hard squeeze. 

“ Ow! Ow! ” piped the shadow, jerking his 
finger away. 



“ With that he stuck his finger right through 
the web and down into the tumbler.” 


“ What s the matter ? ” cried all the others look¬ 
ing frightened. “ Did he bite you? ” 

“ I think he tried to,” the shadow answered. 
He seemed ready to cry. 

“ Never mind ! ” said another. He tried to tap 
on the tumbler, but his finger was too soft to 
make any noise. “Never mind! Pretty soon 

[ 76 i 



In the House of the Shadow Mother 

she ’ll turn them into shadows, and then they 
can’t hurt us.” 

“ She won’t turn me into a shadow,” cried Red 
Cap boldly, but in his heart he was somewhat 
afraid. There was no knowing what an enchan¬ 
tress might be able to do with her magic. 

“So you think you won’t change into shadows?” 
said the same one. “ That’s all you know. We 
thought that once, ourselves, when we were all 
heavy and real like you. But we ate with her and 
we drank with her and we did her bidding just 
the way you will after a while, and then we changed 
into shadows.” 

“ But it’s fine to be a shadow,” said the first one. 
“A great deal better than it is to be real. You 
feel so light, and you can stretch up higher than 
the highest tree. And then we can dance! Look 
how we dance ! ” Then all the shadows took hands 
and began to whirl around the table. Faster and 
faster they went, each keeping the other in place 
by holding together, and as they whirled they 
sang: 

“ Whirl about 
Spin about, 

Turn about 
In and out. 


In the Green Forest 

Owls may flit 
Silently; 

Just as still 
We can be. 

Bats that fly 
In the sky 
Think we ’re dreams 
Gliding by. 

Fall of foot 
Never heard, 

Not a leaf 
Ever stirred. 

Bodiless 

Shades are we 
Flit, flitting 
Merrily.” 

“Is n’t that fine?” they cried, stopping as their 
song ended. “You couldn’t dance like that.” 

“ No, I could n’t.” 

“ It’s good to be a Shadow. That is, except 
when the wind blows,” and the Shadow who had 
spoken glanced around at the others. “ Except 
when the wind blows,” they all echoed nodding 
their shadowy heads. 

“ Why ? What happens then ? ” asked Red Cap. 

“When the wind blows we get blown away,” 
cried one in a sobbing voice. 

[ 78 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

“Yes, we get blown away,” another took up the 
tale. “ Then the Shadow Mother has to come out 
and hunt for us, and sometimes she does n’t find us 
all.” 

“ And what happens to the ones she does n’t 
find ? ” 

“ They have to stay where they are, or hide in 
nooks and crannies until—” 

At that moment the door opened again and all 
the shadows caught hold of the table to keep from 
being blown away. 

The Shadow Mother entered. In her arms was 
a great heap of shadow skeins and ravellings. 
She threw them down upon the floor and then 
looked toward the table with a frown. 

“ What are you doing here ? ” she cried to the 
Shadows. “Away with you, and get to your work. 
There is plenty to do and not enough Shadows to 
do it as it is.” 

Without stopping to speak or answer, away 
sped the gray figures out through the open 
door, and the Shadow Mother closed it behind 
them. 

Without a glance at the table where the tumbler 
stood the enchantress bent over this heap upon 
the floor, drawing out the long threads, smooth- 

[ 79 ] 


In the Green Forest 

ing them, knotting them and winding them on a 
great shuttle which she had taken up. 

When the shuttle was full she opened the door 
of a great black cavernous closet and drew out a 
shadowy heap of meshes. This she carefully 
opened out and hung across the room from hooks, 
and it proved to be a great net. She was very 
careful only to touch it with the tips of her fingers 
and not to get against it. 

When it was hung up she took her shuttle and 
began to work at it, making it larger. A gray, 
pale light came in through a window, and against 
this light she moved, vast and indistinct, her hands 
busy with the net that bellied down with long 
trailing shreds here and there. 

The Shadow Mother kept breathing and mur¬ 
muring to herself as she moved, and presently she 
said, “ Do you know what I am doing, you over 
there in the tumbler?” Her voice sounded far 
away and yet big and all about them like the 
wind. Red Cap did not answer. 

“ I ’m making a net,” the Shadow Witch went 
on. “ I ’m making a net out of shadows and magic. 
When it is once about any one the more they strug¬ 
gle the closer it holds them. After a while, when 
it’s big enough, I ’ll take it out some night when 
[ 80 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

the moon is new and its points are sharp. I ’ll 
hang my gray net out over the sky. Then, when 
the Sun begins to rise, he ’ll find himself caught in 
it; the more he tries to get free the closer the 
net will draw, and there he will be. That’s what 
I ’ll do for the Sun because I hate him. After 
a while you will hate him, too; and when you turn 
to Shadows you shall help me weave my net. 
Won’t that be fine?” 

As the witch talked her hands moved backwards 
and forwards, backwards and forwards, their shad¬ 
ows sweeping across the tumbler until it made 
Red Cap dizzy. Then, still working, she began to 
sing. Her voice sighed and breathed through the 
room like the breathings of the wind. The fairy 
could only understand the words now and then, 
and they did not seem to have much sense, but 
they gave him a very strange feeling. He felt as 
though he were growing gray and bodiless, and 
almost like a shadow himself. The song made 
him drowsy, too. “ This is magic going on, sure 
enough,” he murmured to himself, “but hardly 
the sort I care to learn.” 

He tried to keep awake, but before he knew it 
he found his head bobbing forward. 

Suddenly, from the roof overhead, broke forth a 
6 [ 81 ] 


In the Green Forest 

bold, clear song. The sound of it pierced through 
Red Caps drowsiness like the touch of cooling 
water on his face. 

The Shadow Mother must have heard it, too, 
for her hands ceased from their moving, and she 
turned her head to listen. Her song sighed away 
on her lips. 

Again came the clear, loud notes. It was a bird 
singing; singing and singing of sunshine and 
courage and long flights through the wide and 
shining sky. 

Red Cap sprang to his feet. He seemed filled 
with hope and energy. 

“ What is this ? What is this ? ” muttered the 
Shadow Mother. “This must not be, or all my 
enchantment will be sung away.” 

She swept toward the door and opened it. Quick 
as a flash a small bird darted in through the open¬ 
ing. He perched on the mantel-piece and cocked 
his head on one side. Then, watching the witch 
with his bright eyes, he boldly burst into song 
once more. His little throat swelled and quivered 
with the singing. 

“Wretched creature!” cried the witch in a rage. 
“ How dare you come singing of the sunlight in 
this land of shadows ? ” 

[ ^ j 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

Closing the door she took down a hood from a 
nail. Holding it in her hands she crept cautiously 
toward the mantel, and then with a swift movement 
tried to throw it over the singer. But the bird 
slipped out from under it, and flying over to a 
chair perched upon the back and again burst 
into song. 

And now began a chase about the room, the 
Shadow Mother trying to catch the bird that 
flitted here and there just beyond reach of her 
hands. 

Red Cap watched them breathlessly. A dozen 
times he thought she had the songster, and a 
dozen times it just slipped through her fingers. 
Suddenly the bird changed its course. It flew 
directly into the face of the witch. She was so 
startled that she stepped backward, stumbled and 
fell against the swaying meshes of the net. The 
moment she felt it she gave a cry, and tried to 
beat it off, but it was too late. Like something 
alive the magic strands flew out to clasp her, twin¬ 
ing about her closer and closer. The more she 
struggled the closer they drew, until at last she 
fell upon the floor and lay there panting. 

But the brown bird flew over to the table. 
Alighting upon the edge of the tumbler he 

[ 83 ] 


In the Green Forest 

stooped over, and with a few strokes of his bill 
this way and that, he tore the gray web to shreds. 
Then Red Cap saw that their rescuer was the 
warbler whose eggs he and Nightshade had saved 
from the snake. 

“ Come,” cried the bird. “ Come out from your 
prison. I am here to save you.” 

The elf and the fairy flew up to the edge of the 
tumbler where he was. 

The warbler looked at them keenly. “We have 
no time to lose,” he said. “ How do you feel ? 
Are you able to take a long flight ? ” 

“ One moment,” panted Red Cap. He had found 
it hard to fly up to the edge of the tumbler even. 
“ I feel so strangely tired.” The elf stretched his 
wings with a groan but did not speak. 

The warbler still eyed them. “ Yes, you were 
beginning to feel her magic,” he said. “ I came 
just in time. Perhaps you’d better climb up on 
my back and I ’ll make shift to carry you, for it 
is not well for us to linger here.” 

Red Cap looked down at the Shadow Mother 
and the net wrapped round and round her. “ I 
should think there was no great haste,” he mur¬ 
mured. “ She seems safe enough.” 

“ Yes, until her shadows come. But once she 

[ 84 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

can make them hear they ’ll hasten to untangle her 
and set her free. No, we’d better run no risks, so 
up with you.” 

So urged, Red Cap made shift to fly to the 
warbler’s back, and Nightshade was not slow to 
follow him. 

“ I don’t see how 
you ’re going to get 
out,” said the fairy. 

“ The door is shut and 
the windows, too.” 

“ There are 



‘ The elf stretched his wings 
with a groan.” 


more ways 
than that,” 
answered the warbler. 

“ The chimney might 
do at a pinch.” 

With the two wee 
folk on his back the 
bird flew down into 

the empty fire-place, and looked up. Above was 
the chimney, wide and black; only a square of 
light far, far above showed where the opening was. 

Nightshade shivered and nestled down among 
the warm feathers while Red Cap drew a long 
breath. “Must we go that way?” he asked. 

[ 85 ] 




In the Green Forest 

“ I know of no better. Do you ? ” 

“ No, I don’t/’ 

“Then hold fast and away we go.” So saying, 
the warbler spread his wings and flew up into the 
black tunnel above them. 

There was a cold draught in the chimney, and 
the great bricks, furry with soot, seemed slipping 
away behind them, so fast they flew up toward 
the square of light above. The opening overhead 
seemed to grow in size, and then suddenly they 
flew through it and came out into the wide free 
air above. There the warbler lighted on the top 
of the chimney to rest his wings a moment. 

Far below, and vast and endless, lay a gray 
country with crags and woods and streams. The 
two travellers craned their necks and looked about 
them wondering. It was all so gray and silent; 
nothing but grayness everywhere. 

A sudden breath of wind stirred the warbler’s 
feathers. “ Good ! ” he cried. “ The wind is astir. 
If that is so we may take our time, for while it 
blows her shadows cannot get to her, however she 
calls.” 

As if in answer to what the bird said the wind 
rose in a sudden gust. And now from all about 
the house, from rocks and trees and bushes came 
[ 86 ] 


In the House of the Shadow Mother 

a sound of voices. “ Shadow Mother! Shadow 
Mother!” they cried; “the wind is rising. Come 
and catch us before we are blown away.” It was 
the shadows calling to the gray enchantress. 

There was no answer; only the rising sigh of 
the wind. “ Shadow Mother, Shadow Mother, we 
are blowing away,” wailed the voices. 

And now from the top of the chimney as they 
looked across the country, Red Cap, Nightshade, 
and the warbler, saw a curious sight. Hundreds 
and hundreds of shadows were being blown by 
the wind across the open country. On they went, 
whirling and turning and drifting like dead leaves. 
Sometimes they caught at bushes and grasses 
with their shadowy hands. They clung for a 
minute, only to be swept on again, and always 
sounded their doleful voices: “Shadow Mother, 
we ’re blowing away.” 

Then the gray sky, swept by the wind, began to 
clear of mists. A pale and watery sunlight broke 
over the country. 

“ Now, hold tight,” said the warbler, and he 
launched himself out into the wide, windy air. 


[ 87 ] 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE ELF AND THE FAIRY REST FOR A WHILE 


O N and on flew the warbler, dipping and 
flitting through the air with wings that 
never seemed to tire. 

Red Cap and Nightshade lay at 
length, nestled down among his feathers. The 
feathers were smooth and slippery on top, but 
underneath they were downy soft, with hard 
quills where they came through the skin. The 
fairy and the elf lay with their heads toward the 
warblers tail, and the feathers covered them up to 
their chins. The wind whistled past their ears 
the bird went so fast. 

At last, after the warbler had gone a long dis¬ 
tance, he alighted upon the limb of a tree. 

“Well, here you are at last,” said a familiar 
voice. “ I began to think something must have 
happened to you. But what under the sun is the 
matter with your back ? The feathers are all of 
a hump.” 


[ 88 J 


Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

Red Cap sat up and looked about him. As he 
had thought it was the warbler’s mate who was 
talking. 

She gave a shrill cheep as she saw him. “ No 
wonder you looked humpy,” she cried. “ Have 
you the other one, too?” 

“ Yes ; both of them.” The bird turned his head 
as though on a pivot and looked backward. “ Up, 
lazy one,” he piped, and gave himself a shake. 

Then Nightshade too sat up, and after a moment 
followed Red Cap who had already slipped from 
the sparrow’s back to the branch of the tree. 

The two companions stood there feeling very 
weak and shaky. The lady warbler looked at 
them with her head on one side. “ They don’t 
look very well,” she remarked. 

“ No,” answered her mate. “You see they were 
in the Shadow Mother’s house breathing in magic 
all the time. It’s lucky I got to them when I did. 
A little more and they’d have become shadows.” 

The mother warbler gave her tail a jerk. “ Dear 
knows we’ve had a long enough journey in search 
of them. I hope they feel grateful to you.” 

“We do; oh, we do!’’cried Red Cap. He sat 
down on a lump of bark as he spoke, for he felt 
too weak to stand any longer. 

[ 89 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“That’s all right,” said the warbler. “You 
helped us when we were in trouble, and turn and 
turn about’s fair play. But it’s a good thing this 
wind keeps blowing. I see you ’ll both have to 
rest here for a while before you ’re fit to travel 
further.” 

“ But how did you find them ? ” asked the 
mother warbler. 

Then her mate told her all about it and she lis¬ 
tened admiringly. “Well, you’re clever enough,” 
she said, as he ended. Then she asked, “ But 
don’t you think there’s any danger of the Shadow 
Mother’s coming after them ? ” 

“ No, not as long as this wind keeps up, nor for 
some time after, either. As I told you she can’t 
free herself, and the shadows have blown so far 
that even after the wind drops it ’ll take them 
some time to get home again.” 

The mother warbler cocked her head and looked 
about her. “ If we ’re going to be here any time 
at all had n’t we better begin building a nest ? 
We could make it more comfortable for the 
wee creatures, and besides, I do like to have 
a nest around where I can go to if I feel 
like it.” 

“Yes, I think that would be a good plan,” said 

19° i 


Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

the warbler. “ I ’ll begin to gather some sticks 
directly.” 

Red Cap suggested that he and Nightshade 
could creep into some crack and shelter them¬ 
selves there, but this the birds would not hear 
of. The mother bird particularly would not believe 
that the two could make themselves comfortable 
outside of a nest, and set to work busily to build 
one. 

Red Cap offered to help the warblers in their 
labors, but this they would not allow. They said 
he must rest, and then, besides, he did not know 
how to build. 

That day while the two birds were busy over 
the new home, and Red Cap and the elf were sit¬ 
ting and watching them languidly, Buzzfuzz and 
Gripper appeared. The travellers were very glad 
to see their faithful bees. They had been afraid 
they were lost, or that the Shadow Mother 
would manage somehow or other to keep them 
prisoners. 

By night the frame of the nest was well begun, 
but not enough finished for the fairy and the elf 
to sleep in it. They were obliged to take shelter 
in a crack in the tree and very uncomfortable they 
found it. 


[ 9 ‘ 1 


In the Green Forest 

The next day the warblers were up early and at 
their work. 

All day the wind blew softly, keeping the great 
leaves astir with a pleasant sound. The bees 
buzzed away out of sight, returning now and then ; 



“ The travellers were very glad 
to see their faithful bees.” 


but Red Cap and Nightshade had not energy to 
do anything but lie stretched in the pale sunlight 
that flickered on them with the dancing of the 
leaves. 

That night they spent in the nest and the next 
day it was so far completed that it was very soft 
[ 9 2 ] 



Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

and cosy, lined with stray feathers or bits of down 
that the warblers had found here and there. 

Red Cap wondered how the birds were able to 
leave their own home nest and their eggs. When 
he asked about it the father bird told him to his 
amazement that many weeks had passed since the 
adventure with the snake instead of only a few 
days. The eggs had hatched long ago; the young 
ones had learned to fly and were now out in the 
world, shifting for themselves. 

It is, indeed, quite impossible to judge of time 
when one is in the midst of enchantment. 

“ But what made you think of coming to look 
us up ? ” asked Red Cap. 

“Well, I felt sort of anxious about you,” the 
father bird confessed, “ from the time I heard what 
you were after.” Then with a glance toward Night¬ 
shade who was lying stretched out on a cobweb 
some distance away, the warbler added in a lower 
tone, “ The fact is I did n’t like the looks of your 
companion over much. He looked to me like one 
that might lead you into mischief, so as soon as 
the children were off our claws I said to my mate 
that I thought I’d just fly to the parting of the 
ways to try for news of you. Then nothing would 
do but she must come with me.” 

I 93 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ Well, we inquired all along the way,” the bird 
continued, “ but no one seemed able to tell me 
anything about you. We flew quite a distance 
up the right-hand road without hearing anything 
of you, and then I made up my mind you must 
have taken the wrong turning.” 

Red Cap hung his head in shame. “ It was so 
much pleasanter looking that we thought you 
must have made a mistake. We wanted to think 
you had.” 

“ Ah, well,” said the warbler, with a keen glance 
at the fairy, “ it’s all come out well enough. I 
made up my mind very soon after I started down 
this road that I was on your track. I guessed 
by the way the shadows moved and whispered 
that the enchantress was busy turning some one 
into a shadow.” 

Red Cap told him of the gray man they had 
met on the way; the one who had advised him to 
throw away his talisman. The warbler nodded. 
“Yes,” he said, “ that s the way with the Shadow 
Mother; she can take any shape she chooses, and 
if she can’t get people into her power in one way 
she generally can in another.” 

For some time the birds and the wee folk rested 
quietly where they were, the elf and the fairy grow- 
[ 94 ] 


Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

ing stronger and more able to be about all the time, 
and all the time the wind blew. The mother war¬ 
bler began to talk of beginning their homeward 
journey. “ It must be getting near the time of 
falling leaves,” she said; “ full time for us to be 
thinking of turning southward.” 

The father bird said little, but always there was 
some reason for further delay. “We’re strong 
enough now to make a start at any rate,” Red Cap 
suggested. “It seems to me we’re only wasting 
time. You feel all right now, don’t you, Night¬ 
shade ? ” 

“ Better,” and Nightshade stretched his wings, 
“ but not strong the way I used to be.” 

The fact was the elf was growing fat and lazy, 
and would have been willing to spend all his time 
swinging in a spider’s web, dozing the hours away, 
or munching on a handful of bee-bread. The fairy, 
however, made him take a short flight every day 
just to strengthen his wings. His naps through 
the day did not keep Nightshade awake at night. 
He always fell asleep the moment he was cuddled 
in the nest. 

The evening after this talk Red Cap, for some 
reason or other, could not get to sleep. For one 
thing he had been worrying over his lost talisman. 

[ 95 ] 


In the Green Forest 

He could not bear the thought of going home and 
telling his grandfather he had lost it, — the grand¬ 
father who had kept it ever since he was a boy. 
Then, besides, it might prove almost necessary to 
the fairy on his journey, for he had still far to go, 
and many dangers to meet, for all he knew. 

This worrying kept him awake long after he 
could tell by Nightshades breathing that the elf 
was fast asleep. 

Suddenly he heard the mother bird who was 
perched with her mate on a branch close by give 
a peep. Then he heard the father bird speak. 
“ Are n’t you asleep yet ? ” the warbler asked, tak¬ 
ing his head from under his wing. 

“ No I’m not. I was just thinking — ” she 
paused. 

“ Thinking what, my dear? ” 

“ Oh, I’m getting anxious to be home again. I 
was thinking of the children; I’m afraid they will 
be starting south, and I was in hopes we all 
might have made the journey together. Then, 
besides, the wind has n’t been blowing so stead¬ 
ily to-day. I was thinking if it should stop 
we might have trouble with the Shadow Mother 
yet.” 

There was a pause and then the warbler said in 

[ 96 ] 


Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

a lower tone, “ Well, I should n’t be so sorry if the 
wind were to drop.” 

“ Why not ? ” asked the mother quickly. “ I 
thought it was the wind that kept the shadows 
from going to untangle the witch?” 

“ So it is, but there are other things the wind 
is doing besides that.” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ Have you noticed that all the time it’s 
been blowing away from the Shadow Mother’s 
house?” 

“ Yes ; I’ve noticed that.” 

“Well, it’s blown all the mists and shadows and 
everything to the very edge of her land and be¬ 
tween us and the parting of the ways. There 
they’re banked up so thick and dark we couldn’t 
pretend to find our way through them. I 
should n’t even like to try. We might get lost in 
them and starve to death before we got out. 
That’s why I’m waiting now.” 

“ But in that case it may be deep winter before 
we get back,” cried the mother bird. 

“ Yes, I’ve thought of that, too, but we can’t 
help it.” 

There was silence. Then the father bird gave 
a mournful peep. “If that fairy had not lost his 
7 [ 97 ] 


In the Green Forest 

talisman we’d have been all right. It would have 
shown us the way back in spite of the shadows.” 

“But are you sure he has lost it? Have you 
asked him?” 

“No need of that. He never would have gotten 
into this plight in the first place if he had had it.” 

At this Red Cap started up. The warblers 
heard him stir. “ Hush! ” breathed the father 
bird. “ I’m afraid we ’ll waken them; no need 
for worrying them about it, too.” 

After that there was silence. The two birds 
tucked their heads under their wings, and the night 
grew very quiet except for the breathings of the 
wind that was still astir. 

But there was no sleep for Red Cap. His heart 
was beating hard and fast. So it seemed that his 
heedlessness of warnings had not only brought 
trouble on himself, but had drawn those good, 
kind birds into it as well. 

Almost all night he lay awake, or if he slept it 
was only a short and troubled doze. The next 
morning he ate little or no breakfast. The mother 
bird was troubled about him. “You haven’t got 
rid of all the magic yet,” she said. “ You’d better 
keep quiet to-day and rest in the sun.” 

The father warbler, on the other hand, thought 

[ 98 ] 


Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

he needed exercise. “ He’d better take a good 
long flight in the wind,” he remarked, “ then he ’ll 
come back feeling better and ready for dinner.” 

“I believe father warbler’s right,” said the fairy. 
“ I think a flight might do me a world of good.” 

“I’d go with you,” called Nightshade lazily 
from the spider-web hammock near by, “ but I’m 
not feeling very well myself.” The fact was he 
had over-eaten, himself, the day before. 

Red Cap was very glad that the elf was too lazy 
to join him. He wanted to go alone for what he 
had on hand. He had made up his mind that he 
would fly to the wall of mist and shadows, and 
try whether it was indeed impossible to see his 
way through it. He did not want to say anything 
to anyone about it, however, until he had made the 
attempt. 

With this idea in his head he started off from 
the nesting-tree, flying along with apparent aim¬ 
lessness as long as he was within sight of the 
birds. Sometimes he stopped to swing up and 
down on a grass blade, sometimes he paused to 
rest on a twig or leaf. But as soon as he was out 
of sight he began to travel very differently, flying 
fast and steadily and always in the one direction,— 
the direction in which the wind was blowing. 

[ 99 ] 


In the Green Forest 

At first all was as clear and bright as when he 
was near the nest, but presently he noticed that 
even the pale sunlight of that country had faded 
away. Then in sheltered places, behind rocks and 
in tree hollows, he began to see shadows crouching. 

Suddenly and almost before he knew it, he 
found himself rushing into a still grayness. He 
could hardly see his hand before his face. It 
would be perfectly impossible not to lose ones way 
in that twilight of mist and shadow. 

Red Cap stopped perfectly still where he was. 
Very carefully he turned until he faced in an ex¬ 
actly opposite direction, his face where his back 
had been. Then he flew straight forward, and very 
soon found himself back at the edge of the mist 
with the open country before him. 

“Well, clearly that won’t do,” said the fairy, 
drawing a deep breath. “ It won’t do to venture 
in there again without some clue to lead me out 
in case I get lost.” 

He looked about him wondering what he could 
find, and presently close by he saw a deserted 
spider’s web. “ The very thing,” cried Red Cap, 
clapping his hands. 

Flying to the web he dropped down and began 
examining it. After a time he found the place 

[ IOO ] 


Elf and Fairy Rest for a While 

where the silk thread, of which it was woven, be¬ 
gan. Then he commenced to unravel the web, 
winding the thread around a twig as he untangled 
it. At last the web was all unravelled, and he held 
in his hands a ball of 
spider thread, gray, shin¬ 
ing, and as big as his two 
fists. 

It was too large for 
him to carry in his 
pocket, so he took off 
his cap and hid the ball 
in it. 

He had been so long 
over unravelling the web 
that he decided not to try 
the mist bank again that 
day. He was afraid the 
warblers might grow 
anxious and come to look 
for him. 

He spent the afternoon in coaxing Nightshade 
to exercise his wings a little, and the next morning 
he told the mother bird he felt so much better for 
his trip of the day before that he meant to take 
another. 



“ Fasten his thread to a sturdy 
frond of fern.''* 


[ ioi ] 


In the Green Forest 


She made no objections, so settling his cap firmly 
on his head away he flew. 

It did not seem so far to the wall of mist that 
day for he knew the way. He was careful not to 
fly into it this time, but, stopping on its edge, he 
looked about him for something to fasten his 
thread to. This he soon discovered in a sturdy 
frond of a fern. 

He tied his thread about the stem, knotting it 
safely, and then, ball in hand, he began flying 
straight before him into the mist, unrolling the 
clue as he went. In case he lost his way he could 
always follow the thread back to where he started. 


[ 102 ] 


CHAPTER IX 


THE LOST TALISMAN AGAIN 

A S soon as Red Cap entered the mist he 
lost sight of everything in the gray¬ 
ness. He had nothing to go by, and 
could only guess at whether he was 
going straight forward or only round in a circle. 
However, he held fast to his clue and went forward 
as best he could, trusting to luck. 

Sometimes he would come to a place where the 
mists were thinner, and he could make out some¬ 
thing of his surroundings. Sometimes through 
the grayness would loom up dark gigantic figures 
that seemed to nod and beckon to him, but as he 
came closer to them they showed out to be only 
bushes, or tall clumps of withered grass ; they were 
always hung with drops of water like rows of 
pearls from the moistness of the mist. 

From all about him sounded at times the sighs 
or breathing of the shadows that lurked there in 
crevices of rocks, or tangles of branches. The 
[ io 3 ] 


In the Green Forest 


larger of these shadows took no notice of him, 
but sometimes the smaller ones — those scarce 
bigger than himself — caught at him with their 
shadowy fingers, begging him to take them with 
him, or to carry them out of the mists into the 
open again. 

This, however, Red Cap could not do. “Wait; 
you’ll have to wait,” he would answer. “When 
the wind changes you ’ll blow back to where you 
want to go, but if I took you with me you’d 
only get deeper into the grayness.” 

After wandering about for a long time Red Cap 
suddenly came to a place where the mist was 
thinner than it had been at all. He could see 
about him for some distance. 

There seemed a strangely familiar look about 
the place. It was an open space set round with 
immense trunks of trees that stood almost in a 
circle. 

Then, suddenly, Red Cap knew where he was. 
This was the very spot where he played the game 
of “Ask for what you wish,” and where he had sat 
at the feast with the enchantress; he thought he 
could even tell the exact spot where he had been 
sitting when he ate of the magic fruit that had 
made him go to sleep. 

[ io 4 ] 


The Lost Talisman Again 

If this were really the place, he ought to be able 
to find the path by which they had reached it. 

He spread his wings, which were somewhat 
heavy from the dampness, and flew slowly around 
the circle, watching carefully for any signs of a 
path, but he could find none. 

After a time his flight brought him under an 
ash tree, and from the branches above came a dole¬ 
ful sound of wailing. Looking up Red Cap saw 
that a shadow had caught upon one of the lower 
branches and was clinging there, and swaying 
about very much as a wet shirt hangs and sways 
from the clothes-line on a washing day. 

As it swayed about there the shadow was talk¬ 
ing to itself in a sobbing voice. The fairy could 
even make out what it was saying: “ Ow ! Ow! 
I can’t get down; no, I can’t; Shadow Mother, 
Shadow Mother, why don’t you come and find me? 
Oh, I’m afraid my arms will tear off if I don’t 
get down.” 

Red Cap hovered below the shadow listening, 
and then he flew up nearer. “ Why don’t you let 
go if you ’re afraid your arms will tear? ” he said. 
“ It would n’t hurt you to fall, you ’re so light.” 

“ No, but I wouldn’t fall. I’d blow away and 
dear knows where I’d get to. I only just hap- 
[ io 5 ] 


In the Green Forest 


pened to catch here, anyway. I was going so 
fast. Why don’t you blow away ? ” 

“ I’m not a shadow. I’m heavy; just feel 
me,” and Red Cap flew up and laid his hand on 
the shadow’s fingers. 

“ Oh, yes you are. You ’re heavy. Oh, please 
help me down. Won’t you ? ” 

Red Cap hesitated. “ I don’t know how I could; 

and anyway 
I don’t know 
whether I 
want to;” 
for he re¬ 
membered 
what the 
warbler had 
said about 
the shadows setting the Shadow Mother free. 

“Oh, yes! Why don’t you want to?” wailed the 
shadow. “I never did you any harm. I only just 
poked my finger at you and then you squeezed it; 
yes, you did, and you hurt me, too.” 

At that Red Cap looked at the shadow again, 
and recognized him. “Why, you’re the shadow 
that poked your finger in the tumbler at the 
Shadow Mother’s house, aren’t you?” he cried. 
[ 106 ] 



The Tost Talisman Again 

“ Yes, and I sat near you when we played ‘Ask 
for what you wish;’ you know me; won’t you 
help me down ? ” 

“No, I don’t believe I will. I know what you’d 
do. You’d go back to the Shadow Mother just 
as fast as ever you could. I’m going to let you 
stay here. Good-bye.” 

“ Oh, don’t go, don’t go,” shrieked the shadow 
in its soft, weak voice. “ Wait a minute.” Then 
he added slily, “ If you ’ll help me down maybe 
I can tell you something you’d like to know.” 

“What could you tell me?” 

“ Oh, something. How would you like to know” 
— then the shadow sank its voice to a whisper — 
“ how would you like to know what became of 
that bright thing you wore about your neck?” 

“My talisman!” cried the fairy eagerly. “Oh, 
if you ’ll tell me where that is I ’ll do anything 
in the world to get you down. Do you truly 
know ? ” 

“ I know well enough, for I saw all the old 
mother did while you were asleep, and I ’ll tell 
you, too, only you must get me down first, and 
how can you do that ? ” 

“Yes, how can I do it? Let me think,” said 
the fairy. He fell into a brown study while the 
[ io 7 ] 


In the Green Forest 

shadow watched him anxiously. At last he spoke. 
“ I might sit on your shoulder and then when you 
let go, my weight might carry us both to the 
ground together/’ 

“ I’m afraid you ’re not heavy enough; we 
might both be blown away.” 

A bright thought struck Red Cap. “ Have you 
any pockets?” he asked. 

“ Yes; two on each side.” 

“ How would it do for me to fill them with 
pebbles so as to make you heavy ? ” 

The shadow looked dubious. “That might do, 
if they did n’t fall through me.” 

“ We ’ll try, anyhow.” 

Red Cap flew down and found that luckily there 
were a great many pebbles scattered about on the 
ground. He was a strong fairy for his age, though 
not as strong as Nightshade. He found he could 
lift in his arms a pebble almost twice as large as 
a pea and still manage to fly. 

He carried the pebble up through the air to 
where the shadow was hanging and carefully 
placed it in one of the pockets. He was very 
careful about putting it in lest it should fall 
right through, for the shadow did not look very 
thick or firm. However, the pebble stayed there. 
[ 108 ] 


The Lost Talisman Again 

Then the fairy flew down and fetched another 
pebble. 

This he did again and again and again, putting 
them in the shadow’s pockets until he felt they 
were as full as they would stand without tearing. 

“ I can’t hold on any longer,” cried the shadow 
at last, “ I’m growing so heavy.” 

“ Then let go ; I think you ’re heavy enough to 
fall now.” 

The shadow loosened his hold on the branch 
and down he fell, lighting on the ground with 
such a thump that he sat there quite still and 
dazed for a while. 

“ And now quick, ” cried Red Cap, “ tell me 
what became of my talisman.” 

“ Your talisman ? ” said the shadow stupidly. 
Then he seemed to gather his wits together. 
“ Oh, yes; that shining thing. Well, after you 
went to sleep the Shadow Mother took it from 
your neck. You knew that?” 

“ Yes ; and what next ? ” 

“Well, of course she was in a hurry to get rid 
of it, for it was so bright that if she had held it 
long it would have burned right through her, and 
she would have melted, you know; so she threw 
it away.” 


[ I0 9 ] 


In the Green Forest 


“ Where did she throw it ? ” 

“ She threw it in a spring of water over there,” 
and the shadow pointed toward the west of the 
glade; “ and as far as I know there it is still.” 

Red Cap did not pause to hear anything further. 
He did not even stop to pick up his ball of thread 
which he had put down while he was carrying the 
pebbles. Spreading his wings he flew like a flash 
in the direction in which the shadow had pointed. 

In less than a minute he found himself at the 
border of the glade, and there, in among towering 
fronds of ferns he caught the glint of water. 

He flew down and knelt upon its brink. The 
water was almost black, though clear, and where 
the fairy dipped his fingers in it he found it as 
cold as ice. 

But there was no mistake about his talisman; 
it was there; the shadow had spoken truly. He 
could see it shining up through the water so 
brightly that it made a flickering spot of light 
upon the ferns, just as though a sunbeam were 
shining from below instead of above. But it was 
quite out of reach. Red Cap threw himself flat 
upon the bank and plunged his arms down through 
the water up to the shoulders, but he could not 
begin to touch it. 

[ no ] 


The Tost Talisman Again 

He drew back shuddering with the cold. When 
the water had splashed upon his lips it had tasted 
as bitter as death. What was he to do ? There 
lay the talisman so plainly to be seen and yet 
so hopelessly out of reach, for fairies do not 
know how to swim. Perhaps it is on account 
of their wings that they never think of learn¬ 
ing. They have a great dread of getting under 
water. 

But as Red Cap stood gazing mournfully down 
through the clear black depths, a very daring plan 
came into his mind. It was so very daring that 
he was frightened and tried to think of something 
else, but always that plan came back into his mind 
as the only way. 

At one place the bank shelved down less 
steeply, directly to where the talisman lay. Red 
Caps thought was that if one could hold his 
breath long enough he might walk down that slope 
to the talisman, pick it up and walk out again. 
But how, if one were to lose one’s breath, or be 
so chilled by the water that one would fall down 
and be drowned? 

The fairy had a bold heart, but it took all his 
courage to think of risking it. Still, that is what 
he did at last decide to do. 

[ 111 ] 


In the Green Forest 

Taking a long breath of the free air he stepped 
down into the water. It was so bitterly cold it 
made him gasp, but on he went. The water grew 
deeper. It was up to his waist; up to his chin; 
he drew a fresh breath and went on. Over his 
mouth; he closed his eyes. Over his head. 

Then the fairy did not feel so cold. He opened 
his eyes and found he could see quite clearly, 
and there, only a step before him, lay the talis¬ 
man. 

He stooped and picked it up and then turned 
and walked up the slope and out upon the bank 
in the wide air again. 

Red Cap stood for a few moments hardly know¬ 
ing where he was or what had happened. Scarcely 
thinking of what he was doing, he put the chain 
about his neck and dropped the talisman upon his 
breast once more. 

Immediately a pleasant warmth filled all his 
chilled limbs. A glow seemed about him, as 
though a spot of summer sunlight had fallen 
upon him in the midst of the mist. The light 
and warmth were from the talisman. 

Red Cap was suddenly filled with a wonderful 
sense of delight and lightness. 

He leaped into the air with a laugh of pure joy 

[ ”2 ] 


The Lost Talisman Again 

and then away he flew, more swiftly and tirelessly 
than he had ever flown before. 

There was no need now for the spider-thread 
clue. The talisman burned through the mists 
before him showing him the way. On every side 
the shadows shrank back whispering “ Look! 
Look! The fairy with the talisman!” 

Very soon he came out of the mist at the very 
spot where he had entered it, and within a few 
minutes’ flight of the nesting tree. 


“ Where in the world have you been ? ” called 
the warbler, as Red Cap came flying home to the 
nest. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere. 
I began to be afraid you might have ventured into 
the mist bank and got lost.” 

“ Did you ? ” asked Red Cap in a joyous voice. 
He kept his talisman hidden in his hand so the 
warbler did not see it. 

Nightshade, who was sitting on a twig smooth¬ 
ing his wings, and working them up and down, 
gave the fairy a sharp look. 

Mother Warbler was bustling busily about 
below, picking up a dinner. “ Now you’ve come 
you’d better sit right down and make a good meal,” 
8 [ IJ 3 ] 


In the Green Forest 

she called to the fairy. “ We’ve no time to 
waste.” 

“No, there’s no time to waste,” the Father 
Warbler echoed. 

“Why? What’s the hurry?” 

“ We’ve decided we’d better not wait here any 
longer. Whether the wind blows or whether it 
doesn’t it’s bad for us. It’s bad either way. We 
must try to make our way through to the other 
side whatever happens. Of course it’s a risky 
thing. We may get lost there, but Mother Warb¬ 
ler thinks we’d better make a try at it.” 

“Yes, that’s what I think,” and the mother flew 
up beside them. She stared hard at Red Cap. 
“What’s the matter with you? What makes you 
smile that way? It’s not a smiling matter, I can 
tell you,” she spoke somewhat peevishly. 

“ Well,” answered Red Cap still smiling, “ you 
see I don’t think it’s going to be such a very dan¬ 
gerous matter.” 

“You don’t ? I’d like to know why not.” This 
from the Father Warbler. 

“Because — because — well, because I have my 
talisman again,” and then Red Cap drew away his 
hand so that they could all see it shining upon 
his breast. 


[ ”4 ] 


The Lost Talisman Again 

“You’ve found it,” cried Nightshade, springing 
to his feet, while the birds burst into triumphant 
cries of joy. 

“Yes, I’ve found it, and now we can travel back 
to the parting of the ways just as soon as we 
choose, for it will clear a path before us however 
thick the mists may be.” 

Of course the warblers and Nightshade wanted 
to hear all about how the talisman had been found. 
They listened breathlessly to Red Cap’s story, and 
when he had ended the Father Warbler spoke: 
“ You have been brave and strong, but I knew 
from the first moment I laid eyes on you that 
you would be worth something in the world;” 
and even his mate had words of praise for the 
brave fairy, who, if he had done wrong, had had 
the courage to set it right again. 

There was now no reason why they should not 
start at once and travel in as leisurely a manner 
as they chose. Even the Shadow Mother would 
have no terrors now that Red Cap had his talisman 
again. 

Before long the four were on their way, wing¬ 
ing through the mist that divided before them as 
the light of the talisman fell upon it; and always 
the path of light led them in the right direction. 

[ US ] 


In the Green Forest 


Long before dark they were all once more at 
the parting of the ways, and well out of the 
Shadow Mothers country. 

And now the elf and the fairy were ready to 
begin anew, and the warbler was there this time to 
see that they made no mistake about taking the 
right direction. 


[ 116 ] 


CHAPTER X 


RED CAP AND NIGHTSHADE TRAVEL TOWARD 
THE RIGHT 

Y OU won’t have any trouble about it,” 
said the father bird. “ There’s the 
road before you ; the one you should 
have taken before, and then you would 
not have had all that trouble.” 

“ It looks very rough,” Nightshade remarked 
doubtfully. He almost felt as though he had had 
enough of it, and would be willing to give up 
the magic and turn back. But Red Cap had a 
braver heart. “It can’t be as dangerous as the 
other way, anyhow,” he said. 

“ You ’ll find this path gets easier as it goes 
on,” said the warbler. “We’ll watch you till you 
get through the thorns.” 

“But I thought you were coming with us?” 
cried Red Cap, with some dismay. 

“ No, indeed. We must be starting for the 
South, my mate and I. But you won’t find any 
[ 1T 7 ] 


In the Green Forest 

dangers. Just follow the path and you ’ll find the 
Sun Queen safely enough.” 

“ What bothers me, though,” said the fairy, “ is 
how we’re to know her when we do find her. I 
did n’t know the Shadow Witch.” 

“ Yes, but this is different. When you’ve once 
seen the Sun Queen you ’ll know. Besides, she 
wears the master talisman upon her breast.” 

“ And does it look like my talisman ? ” 

“ No, but your talisman looks like it; and when 
you meet her do not fear her but do whatever she 
bids you; no harm will come to you.” 

It was hard to bid good-bye to the friendly birds, 
but Red Cap could see that they were anxious to 
set off on their own journey, and he and Night¬ 
shade had wasted enough time as it was. So 
the last word was said, and the two comrades 
started, winging their way toward the barrier of 
thorns they saw before them. 

It was only a short distance that they could fly. 
As soon as they reached the brambles they were 
obliged to fold theirwings and creep along through 
them from one twig to another as best they could. 
They were obliged to keep close down to the 
ground in order to follow the turnings of the path 
which they would otherwise have lost. 

[ n8 ] 


Red Cap and Nightshade Travel 

They did not know for how long they toiled 
along followed by their bees that crept through 
the spaces after them. It seemed an endless time. 
They grew weary and their clothes were scruffed 
and torn. No one but fairies or insects could have 
made their way through such a thorny tangle. 



“No one but fairies or insects could have made their way 
through such a thorny tangle” 


All about them was a silence broken only by 
their scratching over the twigs, their heavy breath¬ 
ing, or now and then the buzzing of one of the 
bees. 

At last the fairy rose and stood his full height 
on a thorn, wiping the perspiration from his fore¬ 
head. 


[ 1 r 9 ] 


In the Green Forest 

‘‘There! We’re out of the worst of it,” he 
said. “But it has been a hard road to travel.” 

“ Not worth the pains, I say,” and Nightshade 
looked ruefully at his scratched hands and one 
knee that showed through a three-cornered rent in 
his breeches. 

“ Oh, but think of all the magic we ’ll learn,” 
cried the fairy hopefully. “That’ll make it more 
than worth while.” 

“ Maybe so,” said Nightshade doubtfully. 

The worst of the journey was past, as Red Cap 
said. 

From that point on the two travellers took to 
their wings, flitting down the path that widened 
steadily before them. Great branches arched over¬ 
head. The sunlight shone through them, chang¬ 
ing them to a vast roof of golden green. Where 
it shone upon the leaves beneath it burnished 
them like silver. 

The companions caught glimpses between the 
tree-trunks of an open country beyond. Then they 
heard a cock crow in the distance. They had 
never heard one before and wondered what it was, 
but it sounded homey and comfortable to their 
ears. 

Suddenly they came out from the forest and 


Red Cap and Nightshade Travel 

saw above them the vast arch of the open 
sky. 

The elf and the fairy, who had travelled little 
and had lived deep in the forest, had never seen 
the open country before, nor such a great sweep 
of sky. It almost took away their breath. They 
had never before felt just how small they were: 
mere pin-pricks in the vastness. 

Beyond the meadows the hills were hazy, and all 
the world seemed a wonderful soft color, golden, 
brown, and red, for summer was over. 

The path had ended with the forest. 

“ Now, what are we to do?” queried Red Cap, 
resting himself on the twig of a wild rose-bush 
close by. “ Which way ought we to turn ? The 
warbler didn’t tell us about the path ending.” 

As he clung there, looking about him he became 
conscious of two bright spots shining in the sky 
over toward the east. He wondered he had not 
noticed them before. 

Then as he looked he saw that those daytime 
stars were the lights in two mild, blue eyes. They 
were the eyes of a great face dimly showing in the 
sky. “ Look ! ” the fairy whispered to Nightshade, 
who had lighted on a leaf close by. “ It is the Sun 
Queen.” 


[ 121 ] 


In the Green Forest 

In awestruck silence the two companions gazed, 
while in the sky before them a great figure slowly 
shaped itself against the blue. It was the figure 
of a beautiful woman dressed in a blue garment 
that fell from her neck to her feet. 

She looked at the two tiny travellers and 
smiled, and then she came toward them, stepping 
from hill to hill. 

As she came nearer, curiously enough, instead 
of looking larger she seemed to be growing 
smaller. 

At first she was so great she seemed as high 
as the sky; then she shrank to the height of a 
giant; then to that of a human, and by the time 
she had crossed the last meadow, and stood face 
to face with the fairy and the elf, she was scarcely 
taller than Red Cap himself. 

“ I saw you coming/’ she said. “ I saw you far 
away at the parting of the ways. So you want 
to learn magic of me ? ” 

“Yes, we do if you will teach us,” answered 
Red Cap. 

His fingers touched his talisman where it hung. 
The Sun Queen also wore a talisman, just as the 
warbler had told him. The folds of her garment 
were drawn across it, but it was so wondrously 

[ 122 ] 




“ A great figure slowly shaped itself 
against the blue.” 













Red Cap and Nightshade Travel 

bright that it shone through the blue, and could 
be seen even as to its shape, which was round. 
Red Cap could tell that if there had not been 
something over it he would not have been able to 
look at it on account of its brightness. 

“Yes,” the Sun Queen answered him, “I will 
teach you magic if you will come with me.” 

“ We will come with you,” said Red Cap, and 
Nightshade nodded his head. 

“Will you, indeed?” The Sun Queen smiled. 
“ It takes a brave heart to do that, and yet if you 
will follow where I lead nothing shall harm you.” 

So saying she turned and walked toward the 
south, the elf and the fairy following her. Pres¬ 
ently she turned into the forest, and her two 
companions saw in front of them a great hedge 
barring the way. Its leaves had been touched 
by frost so that they were all red. At least that 
was what the two travellers thought at first, but 
as they drew nearer, the hedge had a very curious 
look. They began to doubt whether it was a 
hedge at all. A strange roaring sound came 
from it. A little further and Nightshade gave a 
cry and stopped short. Red Cap, too, paused. 
The hedge was indeed a hedge, but it was of liv¬ 
ing fire instead of harmless leaves. 

[ I2 3 ] 


In the Green Forest 

The fire wavered and leaped and glowed, but it 
did not burn the trees or bushes around it, and it 
always was straight and smooth like a wall,— a 
great wall that towered higher than the trees. 
The tiny fairy could hardly see the top of it. 

When Red Cap and Nightshade stopped the 
Sun Queen did not pause nor turn her head, but 
she said, “Follow me.” Then they followed her. 

When they were quite close to the wall of fire 
the queen turned to them and spoke again. “This 
is my home. Remember what I said. Keep a 
brave heart and nothing here shall harm you — 
neither fire nor water. Will you come with me 
into my house ? ” • 

At that moment Red Caps heart was anything 
but brave, but he gazed at her talisman and 
thought of the warbler’s words. Then he looked 
into her eyes and he could not doubt her. He laid 
his hand in hers. “ I will go with you even 
through the fire,” he said. 

But Nightshade shrank back, whimpering. “ No, 
no; ” he cried. “ I don’t want to learn magic. 
I’m afraid. I’m going home.” 

“ What, would you turn back after coming so 
far?” asked the Sun Queen. 

“Yes; yes I would. I never did care much 
[ 124 ] 


Red Cap and Nightshade Travel 

about magic, anyway; and don’t you go, either, 
Red Cap. You ’ll get hurt.” 

“ I ’m not afraid,” answered the fairy. And in¬ 
deed as soon as he had laid his hand in the Sun 
Queen’s his heart seemed filled with high courage 
so that he feared nothing. 

“ Then let us go,” said the queen, and hand in 
hand they walked straight up to the fire. 

Nightshade gave a cry. “Come back! Come 
back!” he called, but Red Cap did not turn his 
head. 

As the queen and the fairy reached the fire it 
parted before them like a doorway, and through 
this opening they walked calmly and unharmed, 
and then the flames closed together again and 
Nightshade found himself alone in the forest, with 
nothing but the leaping fire for company. 


[ 125 ] 


CHAPTER XI 


NIGHTSHADE COMES HOME AGAIN 

I N a hollow of a dead tree an old elf woman 
sat all alone spinning. She was so old 
that her face was brown and her skin as 
wrinkled as a walnut. The sound of her 
spinning-wheel could be heard at the knot-hole 
like the continuous buzzing of a bee. 

Presently the light that came in through the 
knot-hole was darkened. The old elf looked up 
and saw a figure standing in the opening, black 
against the light outside. “Who’s that?” she 
asked in a querulous voice. 

“It’s I, Nightshade, Grandmother. Don’t you 
know me?” And that elf himself stepped into the 
hollow. 

“Nightshade!” and the wrinkled spinner dropped 
her hands in her lap. “ And what wind is it blows 
you hither? ” 

“ Is that all the welcome you have for me?” asked 
Nightshade throwing himself down upon a piece of 
[ i2 6 ] 


( 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

bark that had been arranged at one side of the 
room as a seat. “ Not a very joyful welcome to 
the grandson whom you have not seen for so 
long.” 

“Why should I be glad to see you?’' and the old 
grandmother took up her thread again, and set her 
wheel whirling. “You never were anything but a 
thorn in my side with your mischievous, disobe¬ 
dient ways. I’ll be bound you wouldn’t be here 
now if there was n’t some favor you wanted of me.” 

“ Why don’t you think I came just for the pleas¬ 
ure of seeing you?” 

“Because that’s too unlike you. Come, now; 
what is it you want? Out with it.” 

“ Well, since you will have it, Granny, I want 
you to make me a new suit of clothes ; one of 
your really fine ones such as you alone can make.” 

“ So you think to get round me with your com¬ 
pliments; but I know how much that means. You 
do need some new clothes, though,” and the old 
creature looked him up and down. “What have 
you been doing with yourself?” 

“Oh, travelling about the world. I do look 
rather ragged,” and the elf glanced down at him¬ 
self, and pulled off a piece of cloth that dangled 
from his cuff. His clothes were indeed in a poor 
[ 127 ] 


In the Green Forest 

plight, ragged and faded and worn, and too small 
for him, too, for he had grown since he left the 
old hickory tree, so long ago. “ I would n’t like 
the fairies at the grove to see me in this state,” he 
muttered half to himself. “ They’d never believe 
I’d learned magic.” 

“ Oh, those fairies!” grumbled the grandmother. 
“ Nasty stuck-up things! I never could understand 
why you wanted to live among them, anyway. 
Why couldn’t you be satisfied to be with elves like 
yourself ? ” 

“The fairies are all right,'Granny,” said Night¬ 
shade good-humoredly. “ They shan’t be stuck-up 
with me, I can promise you. Maybe I ’ll marry 
one of them some day. There’s a very pretty 
little fairy there named Bluebell. But come now, 
you ’ll make me the clothes, won’t you ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, I suppose you ’ll have to have them, 
but they ’re not a thing to be made in a day. 
You ’ll have to be content to bide here for a while 
if you want me to make them.” 

“ All the better, Granny; that suits me, even if 
you do grumble and scold at me all the time.” 

“ Precious little good it does you, anyway,” the 
old woman muttered, pushing aside her spinning- 
wheel. Then she hobbled over to the great worm- 

[ 128 J 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

hole where she kept the rolls of fine cloth, green 
and red, for which she was so famous among the 
elves, and began to lift out some of the pieces. 
41 Yes, I ’ll make them, but you ’ll have to stay here 



“ . . . hobbled over to the. great worm-hole where 
she kept the rolls of fine cloth.” 


till they re done. Yes, you ’ll have to stay here,” 
she repeated over and over. 

Indeed it suited Nightshade well enough to 
spend a week there with the old elf. It would 
give him a chance to rest, and the home hollow 

9 [ 129 ] 





In the Green Forest 


was a cozy place. So for the next few days, while 
the old grandmother snipped and fitted and sewed, 
he lay about in the sunshine dozing away the 
hours, or thinking of the journeyin search of magic 
from which he and the two bees alone had 
returned. 

Nightshade spent a great deal of time wonder¬ 
ing just what had become of Red Cap. He had 
never seen him since he had disappeared through 
the flames with the Sun Queen, though he had 
lingered there on the edge of the forest a long time. 
He hardly thought he would ever see the fairy 
again. One might perhaps pass alive between 
those blazing door posts, but he did not believe 
that one could do it twice. 

No, Red Cap would never return, and now what 
Nightshade wanted to do was to make the most out 
of the journey he had taken, and to explain to the 
fairies of the grove how it happened that Red Cap 
had not come back with him. He did not mean to 
tell things as they really had occurred, however. 
Oh, no; that would never do. What would they 
all think if they were to learn that, after travelling 
so far in search of magic, he had come back no 
wiser than he had started ? Luckily the two bees 
could not talk, so Nightshade might say what he 
[ I 3° ] 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

chose of the journey and there would be no one to 
contradict him. 

Before he left the old ash tree where his grand¬ 
mother lived he had it all arranged — just what 
he was going to say. 

He was a very different looking creature when he 
set out again for the fairies’ grove from what he 
had been when he appeared before the old spinner 
a few days before. 

In the first place he looked less travel-worn and 
weary; then his hair had been neatly trimmed by 
his grandmother, and he was dressed from top to 
toe in a new suit, fine and handsome, such as she 
alone of all the elves could make. 

Nightshade looked down at himself well pleased. 
“Well, Granny,” he said, “I will say this, that in 
all the grove there’s not a fairy who wears any 
finer clothes than those my elf grandmother makes 
for me.” 

That pleased the old creature, and she let him 
kiss her withered cheek, and bade him good-bye 
and good luck quite pleasantly. Then she stood 
staring after him as he flew away through the for¬ 
est arches, the two bees at his heels. “ A hand¬ 
some elf,” she muttered to herself, “ and a stout one, 
too, but I pity any one who trusts him for a friend.” 
[ W ] 


In the Green Forest 


Meanwhile, untroubled by any care of what his 
grandmother might be thinking, Nightshade flew 
gayly along through the waving lights and shadows 
of the forest. 

He flew fast and steadily, and it was not so very 
long before he reached the familiar grove and heard 
the joyous calls and laughter of the fairies at play 
under the ferns. 

Then he alighted on the mosses and walked 
slowly over toward his old ash tree. 

Presently the fairies caught sight of him. 

“ Look! Look!” they cried. “Who is that?” 
“I do believe it’s Nightshade.” “No it isn’t.” 
“ But it is, though.” 

Then all the fairies came crowding around him 
pouring out questions. “ Where had he been all 
this time?” “.Where was Red Cap?” “And had 
he learned magic as he had set out to do ? ” 

“Learned magic? Of course I have. Would I 
have come back here, think you, and looking like 
this, unless I had ? ” 

The fairies looked at him and were obliged to 
confess that he did not look like onewho had failed. 
As to the other questions Nightshade did not care 
to answer them then and there. His story, when 
he was ready to tell it, was for the older fairies, — 

[ 132 ] 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

those who were of position and importance in 
the grove. 

He flew up to the hole in his hickory tree and 
disappeared, while the fairies stood staring after 
him in respectful silence. 

They did not stand there long, however. Soon 
they separated, running away to their houses to tell 
the news that Nightshade had returned, and re¬ 
turned knowing, so he said, all the magic he had 
set out to learn. 

Soon all the grove was in a buzz over the news. 

None, however, were as excited as the Peaspods 
and old Grandaddy Dandelion. “ But what can it 
mean ? ” cried the little mother, almost weeping. 
“ Why did n’t Red Cap come back with him ? 
What can have happened to the child ? ” 

“ Do not trouble over that, daughter,” said the 
old fairy Dandelion. “ No harm has happened to 
the boy; of that I am as sure as that the dande¬ 
lions turn from gold to white. No harm could 
come to him with that talisman about his neck.” 

“ But he may have lost it.” 

“ Not he. I’m surprised that you do not know 
him better. If he has not returned with the elf it 
is for some reason that is more a credit to him than 
to Nightshade.” 


[ 133 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“ At any rate we ’ll hear all about it this evening, 
for there is to be a great meeting of the fairies, and 
then Nightshade is to recount his travels before 
them all, but until then there are orders that he 
is to be allowed to rest, ” said Father Peaspod. 

And so it was that it had been arranged; a 
great honor to the elf indeed; but Nightshade, 
who had travelled to the land of magic and had 
returned tall and fine and bringing with him wis¬ 
dom such as had never been in the grove before, 
was a very different person from the mischievous 
elf who had sat at the mouth of the old squirrel 
hole throwing down empty nut-shells at the fairies 
below. 

That evening the grove was made very gay 
indeed for the great meeting that was to be held. 
There had been some talk of holding it at the 
opening up the stream where the fairies went to 
dance. The objection to that, however, was that the 
fairy mothers could not leave their babies to go 
so far away, and as they were as anxious to hear 
about the magic as any one, it was decided he 
should recount his adventures in the home grove 
where it would be convenient for all. 

They made things as festal as possible, how¬ 
ever, by hanging the twigs and ferns with count- 
[ !34 ] 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

less fire-flies and with long strings of berries, 
orange, red, or purplish blue. 

The meeting was held as soon as the fairy 
mothers could get their babies to sleep. Every 
fairy in the grove who was old enough was there. 
They sat about in a big circle upon mats woven of 
milk-weed silk; or simply on spiders’ webs folded 
to make them thick and soft. 

When all were assembled and silence had been 
called for, Nightshade stepped out into the middle 
of the circle and began to tell them of his ad¬ 
ventures. 

“Perhaps you don’t know,” he began, “that I 
already knew a great deal about magic when I 
started out with Red Cap. Bluebell knows some¬ 
thing about it. I showed her some of my magic. 
Just in a small way, to be sure, but still it was 
magic.” 

He stopped and looked at Bluebell. All the 
other fairies looked at her, too, while she blushed 
red at finding herself so stared at. “You remem¬ 
ber, don’t you, Bluebell?” asked Nightshade, and 
the young fairy nodded without raising her eye¬ 
lids; she felt so shy it brought the tears into her 
eyes. 

“ Yes, I never made any talk about it, but I 

[ i3S 1 


In the Green Forest 


could have surprised you all if I had chosen. Still, 
that, of course, was nothing compared to all that I 
have learned since I have been away.” 

Then Nightshade began to tell them of his jour¬ 
ney. He told all about it from the time he and 



" Then Nightshade began to tell 
them of his journey 


Red Cap started, to the time of their return to the 
parting of the ways. Only how different he made 
it all sound from the'way it had really been ! He 
made it seem as though it were he who had done 
[ * 3 $ ] 






Nightshade Comes Home Again 

all the brave and wise things, and that Red Cap 
had only followed his lead. 

When he spoke of how the gray man had tried 
to get the talisman the elf pretended that he had 
told Red Cap not to give it up. 

Then when he came to the part where his com¬ 
rade had eaten of the magic fruit, he made it seem 
as though it were in spite of his warnings and 
entreaties. “ I myself was faint with hunger,” said 
Nightshade, “but I remembered the warblers warn¬ 
ings and would touch nothing.” 

So it was with everything the elf told. He 
twisted it in just that way. 

Last of all he recounted how they had found the 
Sun Queen, and how she had led them into the 
forest to the wall of fire. At that point he paused, 
while the listening fairies drew their breaths 
deeply. 

“Then,” Nightshade went on, “the Sun Queen 
turned to us, and said, 1 Keep a brave heart, and 
neither fire nor water shall harm you. Will you 
take my hand and come with me into my house?’ 
She held out her hands, and I said, ‘ I will go with 
you even through the fire,’ and I laid my hand in 
hers. 

“But Red Cap was frightened. He shrank back 

[ 137 ] 


In the Green Forest 

and said, ‘ I am afraid. I would rather never learn 
magic than go through those flames/ 

“The Sun Queen looked at him pityingly and 
I urged and entreated him to come with us, but 
he would not for all I could say. I went with her, 
however. The flames rolled aside before us and 
then closed together again, but Red Cap was left 
behind.” 

At that moment Grandaddy Dandelion sprang 
to his feet as though he were a young fairy once 
more. “And you mean to say,” he cried in a 
voice of wrath, “that you went on, and Red Cap 
stayed behind, even with the talisman upon his 
breast ? ” 

Nightshade looked down and nodded sadly. 
“ It was even so,” he said; “and yet I can scarcely 
blame him. Those flames were enough to daunt 
even the bravest.” 

“Then” cried the old fairy in a loud voice, “I 
say to you now that I do not believe it. I do not 
believe that Red Cap ever turned back from any 
place where elf, or fairy either, would venture. 
Where he is I do not know, nor why he should 
not have returned with you; but this I do know, 
he is no coward, and when he returns, as he surely 
will, he will tell us the rights of the story. Until 

[ 138 ] 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

then I will wait. Come, daughter,” and he touched 
the weeping Mother Peaspod on the shoulder. 
“ Have you not heard enough from this elf? Let 
us go back to our hollow.” 

Hanging her head and weeping softly Mother 
Peaspod arose. The old fairy put his arm about 
her and led her away, followed by Father Peaspod. 

After the three had gone there was a silence 
among the crowd of fairies; then they began to 
murmur among themselves, some saying that it 
was a shame to speak to Nightshade in that man¬ 
ner ; some doubting whether the Peaspods were 
not, after all, in the right, there was no one to 
say whether the elf was giving the truth of the 
matter. 

Nightshade heard something of this. 

“ Friends,” he said, raising his voice above the 
murmurs, “ I do not blame old Dandelion ; no, nor 
Father nor Mother Peaspod, either, for what they 
have said to me. No wonder they feel badly that 
their son should not have dared to risk what I, a 
poor humble elf, had the courage to do. But why, 
if Red Cap went through the fire—why did he 
not come back with me ? I ’ll tell you why he did 
not return. He was ashamed to own that he had 
failed. No doubt he is lurking about in the woods 

[ 139 ] 


In the Green Forest 

by himself some place, ashamed to show his face. 
Or perhaps he has joined some other tribe of 
fairies where his story is not known.” 

This seemed very reasonable, and the fairies 
were inclined to believe it, but one of the older 
ones said that he thought it would be well for 
Nightshade to show them some of the magic he 
had learned. 

This was what the elf had been afraid of all 
along, but when he had been laying his plans at 
his old grandmothers, he had made up his mind 
what he would say when they asked him to show 
his magic. 

So he answered them calmly that he would be 
very willing to do this but for two things. The 
first was that he was still weary from his journey, 
and doing magic was very hard work. The second 
was that he was thinking of sometime starting a 
school for magic, open to all fairies, young and old. 
Of course if he was going to do that he did not 
care to show his magic beforehand. Perhaps 
after a while he might show them some few tricks, 
but not until he had rested. Of course no one 
could doubt that he knew magic. Bluebell could 
tell them he did. 

Then Bluebell, shy and blushing, was pushed 

[ ho ] 


Nightshade Comes Home Again 

forward, and told them that she had indeed seen 
Nightshade work a very wonderful piece of magic. 
It was only one but it was very wonderful indeed. 

After that every one was obliged to believe, for 
no one could doubt the little Bluebell. 

The fairies all separated soon after, going home 
to their different hollows, and as they went all the 
talk was of what a clever elf Nightshade was, and 
of how fine it would be to have a school of magic 
in their grove. 

Every one felt sorry for the Peaspods, and 
spoke of how sad it was for them to have such a 
poor sort of a son as Red Cap had turned out 
to be. 

As for Nightshade he felt quite safe. He could 
put off opening his school for a long time, first for 
one reason then for another; it was easy to befool 
the forest fairies, they were so honest and simple 
minded themselves. Then if they should insist 
upon seeing some of his magic, perhaps he could 
think up some way to trick them, just as he had 
tricked Bluebell about the cocoon. 


[ H 1 ] 


CHAPTER XII 


A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN 


A ND now the elf Nightshade had great 
respect paid him. 

There was much talk about the 
school, and they wanted the elf to say 
how soon he meant to open it, but he always 
managed to put them off when they began to talk 
in this way. 

The older of the fairies thought that any one as 
wise as Nightshade ought to be treated with all 
the honor possible, so a fine large hollow was 
chosen for him, and the fairies took pride in fur¬ 
nishing it handsomely. They also presented him 
with two fine bees, so he was well fixed. 

He was particularly glad of this last present, as 
he had grown so used to feeding on bee-bread 
that he hardly would have known how to do with¬ 
out it, and Buzzfuzz had deserted him as soon as 
he had reached the grove, flying back to the old 
hollow in the white oak where he had been raised. 
[ H2 ] 


A Message from the Queen 

Nightshade would have liked to claim him again, 
and had thoughts of saying that Red Cap had 
given the bee to him, but he was somewhat afraid 
of Grandaddy Dandelion. At any rate he had no 
real need of Buzzfuzz after the present of the two 
young bees. 

Late one afternoon, about a week after Night¬ 
shade’s return, and when the fairies were all gath¬ 
ered at their early suppers, the silence of the 
grove was suddenly broken by the clear, shrill 
sound of fairy trumpets, playing a gay fanfaronade. 

All the fairies jumped up from their tables and 
hurried out to the knot-holes to see what was 
coming, and Nightshade too came out to look, like 
all the rest. 

There they saw a pretty sight. 

Winging their way across the glade with stately 
leisure came five stranger fairies, clad in green and 
silver, and wearing crimson caps upon their heads; 
it was the livery of those belonging to the court 
of the fairy queen. 

The two who came first carried tiny silver trum¬ 
pets in their hands upon which they blew now and 
then. Following them was one in long robes and 
bearing a sealed roll in his hands, and last came 
two more pages with ivory wands. The five 

[ 143 ] 


In the Green Forest 

made a gay appearance as they winged across the 
grove. 

Stopping at the first knot-hole one of the pages 
inquired of the fairies there which was the hollow 
where the elf named Nightshade lived. 

“ It is in the oak tree over yonder,” answered 



“ The five made a gay appearance as they 
winged across the grove." 

the father fairy, pointing. “ Shall I go with you 
to show you the way?” 

“That is not necessary,” answered the page. 
“ I think I see the tree you mean; but you may 
follow for I bring a message from the fairy queen, 
and though it is especially for Nightshade it were 
as well that all the fairies of the glade should hear 
it.” Then he and the others flew slowly away 
toward the tree. 


t H4 ] 


A Message from the Queen 

The forest fairies, filled with curiosity as to what 
the message could be about, made haste to throw 
aside the tiny napkins which they still held, and 
to follow. The crowd had grown to great size by 
the time it gathered around the tree where the elf 
lived. 

When Nightshade saw the courtly visitors com¬ 
ing toward him, followed by all the others, he 
hardly knew whether to be frightened or not. He 
had not yet decided when the court fairies paused 
and saluted him, and he of the long robe began 
to speak. “Are you the elf named Nightshade?” 
he asked. 

“ I am,” answered the elf. 

“The Nightshade who travelled beyond the part¬ 
ing of the ways in search of magic?” 

“The very same.” 

“Then I bring you greetings and a message 
from the Queen of Fairyland. Listen, all, and I 
will read the word she deigns to send.” 

So saying the messenger broke the seal of the 
roll he carried, and opening the paper began to 
read what was written on it in a loud, clear voice. 

This was the message. The Fairy Queen had 
heard of the journey Nightshade had taken in 
search of magic; had heard, too, that he had found 
10 [ 145 ] 


In the Green Forest 

the Sun Queen and had been taught by her. 
Further, report said he had brought back with 
him knowledge new to the fairies of her court, 
where the same magic has been handed down from 
one generation to another, with almost no changes. 
She was therefore going to do a great honor to 
Nightshade and the fairies of the glade. The 
next night she herself and all her retinue would 
come to the grove, there to hold court, and to hear 
and see Nightshade work some of his wonderful 
enchantments. 

When the messenger had finished reading this 
message there was a moment’s silence, and then 
all the fairies shouted aloud, huzzahing and throw¬ 
ing their wee caps up in the air with joy over 
the honor to be done them. They huzzahed for 
the queen and for the messenger, and then most 
loudly of all for the elf himself. 

Nightshade, however, stood there with shaking 
legs and a pale face, for he knew no magic to show 
the queen, and he did not know what would hap¬ 
pen to him when he confessed to this. However, 
he said nothing, and every one thought it was 
with pleasure that he turned so pale. 

“ Shall I tell her majesty that you will be ready 
for her? ” asked the messenger with stately courtesy. 

[ 146 ] 


A Message from the Queen 

“Ye-yes” stammered Nightshade. “ And I — 
I thank her majesty for the honor done me.” 

“ It is well; I will carry her your answer.” Then 
at a gesture the pages again blew upon their trum¬ 
pets sweet and clear, and the strangers spread their 
wings and flew slowly across the glade and out of 
sight as they had come. 

Scarcely were they gone when the whole glade 
was in a bustle. There was much work to be 
done before they would be properly prepared for 
such a visit, and the time was short indeed. 
Flowers must be brought; the whole glade should 
be turned into a bower. Hundreds and hundreds 
of glow-worms and fire-flies must be caught. Then 
there should be bonfires, too. Oh, it would be a 
great occasion indeed. 

In the midst of all this general rejoicing, how¬ 
ever, one family was sad of heart, and watched with 
mournful eyes the preparations for the queen’s 
visit. To the Peaspods the honors paid to Night¬ 
shade seemed to throw the greater scorn upon 
poor Red Cap, whom all except themselves believed 
to have failed where the elf had succeeded. 

But there was one other person in the grove 
who was even more unhappy than the Peaspods, 
and that one was Nightshade himself. He was 

[ 147 ] 


In the Green Forest 

in a bad plight indeed. To have the fairy queen 
and all her court come to see him work some 
wonderful magic, when he did not even know the 
simplest tricks such as were easy to every fairy of 
the court! And he could not deceive them with 
some pretended magic as he had the simple-hearted 
Bluebell. The court fairies knew too much for 
that. 

He thought to himself that perhaps it would be 
better for him to go away immediately, but it 
seemed too hard to be obliged to give up his com¬ 
fortable home and all the luxuries that the fairies 
had provided for him. Then, perhaps, something 
would happen to prevent the queen’s coming, or 
he might be able to think of some plan to escape 
from the trial. He might even fall ill and be 
excused on that account. He certainly felt far 
from well with all this worry. 

So the elf tossed restlessly about on his bed all 
night, unable to sleep. 

When morning came at last he hastily swal¬ 
lowed his breakfast and then wandered away, try¬ 
ing to get out of sight of all the gay preparations. 

The fairies were quite willing to leave him to 
himself. They had too great a respect for him now 
to think of asking him to help them with their 
[ ' 4 « ] 


A Message from the Queen 

work. They whispered among themselves that he 
wanted to be by himself to think over his magic 
and to decide what parts of it would be most 
pleasing to the fairy queen. 

Nightshade wandered away and on and on until 
he was so far from the glade that he could no 
longer hear the fairies shouting gaily at their work. 
He did indeed wish to be alone, but not for the 
reason they thought. 

Glancing up he was annoyed to see some one 
coming toward him from an opposite direction. If 
they both kept on they would soon meet. 

Nightshade turned aside, hoping the new-comer 
would pass by without noticing him, but suddenly 
he was startled by a joyous cry from the stranger. 
“Nightshade! Surely it is Nightshade!” 

The elf turned quickly, and then he, too, gave a 
cry of surprise. “ Red Cap! No, it cannot be!” 

“ Yes, but it is, though,” cried Red Cap, as that 
fairy himself came running across the moss, hold¬ 
ing out both hands to the elf. 

“ But — but I thought you were lost,” stam¬ 
mered Nightshade. “ How did you escape from 
the flames, and where have you been all this 
time ? ” 

“ I’ve been learning magic with the Sun Queen. 

[ J 49 ] 


In the Green Forest 


She taught me such things, — such wonderful 
things!” and the fairy looked dreamily up toward 
the green leaves overhead. 

“ But the flames! How did you come out from 
them again? ” 

“ When one has studied magic with the Sun 
Queen, one has no fear of flames nor fire; no more 
than of so much pure sunlight.” Suddenly he 
started and spread his wings. “ But I must hurry 
on. I can hardly wait to see the dear father and 
mother; and old Grandaddy Dandelion, too.” 

But Nightshade stopped him with a hand laid 
upon his arm. “Wait a moment. I would not 
hurry on too fast,” he said. 

“Why not?” asked the fairy sharply. “What is 
it? Has anything happened to my dear ones?” 

“No; oh, no. Wait. I will tell you in a 
moment.” Nightshade hesitated. He was think¬ 
ing hard and fast. He must plan some way to 
keep Red Cap from appearing before the fairies 
just then, for the minute they saw him and heard 
his story, they would know how Nightshade had 
been deceiving them. And the elf must make up 
his mind to leaving before the queen came; that 
very hour indeed. There was no hope for him 
now that Red Cap had returned. He would just 
[ J 5° ] 


A Message from the Queen 

go back to his hollow for his bees and such things 
as he could carry away with him ; but even for 
this he must gain time. 

So he spoke at last. “There’s nothing the mat¬ 
ter with any one, but I ’ll tell you just how it is. 
You see the Fairy Queen is going to pay our fairies 
of the glade a great honor. She has heard that 
they are very much interested in magic, so she is 
coming to-night and bringing all her court, and 
they are going to work some magic for us. Now 
of course you have learned a lot of fresh magic 
from the Sun Queen, and if our fairies find you Ve 
come home they’ll want you to show all you 
know. Then think how the queen and all the 
court will feel to have you showing off magic so 
much better than theirs.” 

“But I needn’t show my magic,” said Red Cap 
wistfully. “And I should so like to be there and see 
our Fairy Queen. I’ve never seen her, you know.” 

“Well, of course it’s just as you please.” Night¬ 
shade spoke indifferently. “Only you know how it 
is. You couldn’t be there without some ones whis¬ 
pering it to her. Our fairies would be so proud 
of you that they could never keep the secret.” 

“ Perhaps you are right,” said Red Cap sadly. 
“ But what shall I do 3-night if I don’t go 
[ > 5 ' ] 




In the Green Forest 


home? I suppose I can find a hole or cranny 
some place where I can sleep, but I am so tired, so 
worn and weary, that I long to be at home.” 

“ Oh, I ’ll fix all that,” said Nightshade quickly. 
“ I ’ll tell you what to do. If you go to sleep 
about here some one might happen to run across 
you, but no one will think of coming to my hollow 
to-day. They’re all too busy. We’ll wait until 
dinner-time when nobody is about, and then you 
can go home with me, and stay quietly hidden 
until to-morrow, and then come out and surprise 
everybody.” 

Red Cap was willing for this, though it did 
seem terribly hard to have to wait another day, and 
to miss his chance of seeing the queen; a chance 
he might never have again. 

Suddenly he started, and a look of joy came 
into his face. “ Is n’t that Bluebell?” he cried. 
“ Surely I can’t be mistaken.” 

Nightshade gave a hasty glance back toward the 
glade. Red Cap had seen truly. There was Blue¬ 
bell coming directly toward them through the 
green shadows of the wood. “ Oh, hide your face ; 
don’t let her see you,” cried the elf in a panic. 

“ But it’s little Bluebell! I must speak to her. 
She’s so true she would never tell.” 

[ !52 ] 



“ ‘ (9//> hide your face ; don't 
let her see you.’ ” 















































*• 













































A Message from the Queen 

“ She is the last fairy in the glade who must 
know you ’re here. Don’t you see she’s so fond of 
you that for that very reason she could n’t help 
letting people see her joy over your return?” 

“ Perhaps you ’re right. But it’s very hard.” 

“ Yes, I’m right. Hide your face and 111 go on 
and get her away somehow.” 

Red Cap reluctantly did as Nightshade bade him, 
turning his back and hanging his head that Blue¬ 
bell might not recognize him. 

The little fairy had now caught sight of the two, 
and as she did so she stopped short staring hard at 
the stranger, of whom, however, she could only see 
the back. 

When Nightshade came up to her she caught 
him by the arm. “Tell me,Nightshade,” she whis¬ 
pered. “ Who is that?” 

“ Oh, just a strange fairy I happened to meet 
here in the woods,” answered the elf easily. 

“ No, it is not. You cannot deceive me. I 
know who it is; it is Red Cap. But why does he 
turn away? Oh, I will fly and speak to him.” 

But Nightshade caught her by the arm. “Yes,” 
he said, “ it is Red Cap, but you had better not 
speak to him just now.” 

“Why not?” 


[ 153 ] 


In the Green Forest 

“To tell you the truth he is so sad and so 
ashamed over not having learned magic that he 
cannot bear the thought of meeting any one. Then 
he is all ragged and worn. When he saw you he 
cried, ‘Oh, don’t let her speak to me.’ No, just 
let me get him quietly to my hollow, and when we 
have mended his clothes and he has slept he ’ll be 
more willing to see people. But don’t trouble him 
just now; he’s almost sick as it is.” 

“You have a kind heart, Nightshade,” said Blue¬ 
bell, “and I will do as you say.” Then the tears 
rose to her eyes. “I shouldn’t have thought he 
would have minded seeing me , but of course if he 
does n’t want to I won’t trouble him ; ” and Bluebell 
turned slowly away. Then spreading her wings 
she flew off in another direction. 

“ What did she say?” asked Red Cap eagerly, as 
Nightshade came back to him. “Did she guess 
who it was ? ” 

“ No, of course not. She just happened to come 
this way, but she’s gone now.” 

Red Cap said nothing, but he was disappointed. 
It seemed to him he would have known Bluebell 
anywhere, even if he had only seen her back. But 
then, perhaps she was not so fond of him as he was 
of her. 


[ 154 ] 


A Message from the Queen 

Nightshade’s plan worked exactly as he wished. 
Having waited until the fairies were all at dinner 
the two flew to Nightshade’s hollow without being 
seen. Not until they were safely in, however, and 
a dead leaf pushed before the knot-hole, did Night¬ 
shade draw a full breath. 

The elf bustled about setting out a dinner for 
himself and his visitor. Red Cap was surprised 
to see how handsomely Nightshade was living 
now, but he said nothing about it, fearing it might 
not seem polite. 

When they were seated at the table, and the elf 
had helped each to a large plateful of good things, 
he began to question Red Cap as to the magic he 
had learned in the Sun Queen’s house. He was 
itching to hear about it. 

Red Cap was willing enough to tell. 

It was all very wonderful. Nightshade listened 
with both ears, almost forgetting to eat his dinner 
in his interest. t 

“All that is very fine,” he said at last, with a 
long breath, “ but can you do all the magic you 
choose now ?” 

“ Yes, all.” 

“And how is it you do it, anyway? Couldn’t 
you teach me a little? Just two or three little 
[ 155 ] 


In the Green Forest 

tricks ?” For it had suddenly struck Nightshade 
that if he could get Red Cap to give him a few 
lessons between then and night time he might be 
able to make some show before the fairy queen, 
after all. 

“No,” answered Red Cap, “ I couldn’t teach 
you.” Nightshade’s face fell. “You see,” went on 
the fairy, “ it’s all in a wand the Sun Queen gave 
me when I was coming away. I just hold the 
wand in my hand and tell it what I want it to do. 
Then I wave it three times and cry, ‘ Abracadabraca! 
be it as I say,’ and then the magic does itself.” 

“ Have you the wand about you ? ” asked the 
elf eagerly. 

“ Yes I have,” and Red Cap drew out the wand; 
it had been stuck through his belt at the side 
though Nightshade had not noticed it. It was a 
slender, golden rod, with a star upon the end ; a 
star that sparkled so brightly as Red Cap held it 
up that it filled all the hollow with its light. 

Nightshade’s eyes sparkled. “ May I see it?” he 
cried, stretching out his hand. 

“You may look at it,” answered Red Cap. “But 
it must not go out of my possession.” 

The elf examined the wand eagerly. He could 
hardly keep himself from snatching it out of Red 

[ 156 ] 


A Message from the Queen 

Cap’s hands. To think that if he only could get 
that wand for himself he could do all that was 
expected of him that evening ! Yes, and could win 
such honors and fame as had never fallen to the 
lot of any elf. 

But after Nightshade had looked at it for a while 
the fairy put it back through his belt. 

When dinner was over Red Cap said he was 
very sleepy. He was so worn out that he must 
lie down and rest, for his journey had been long 
and hard. 

This suited Nightshade exactly. He was very 
kind and made the fairy as comfortable as he 
could. Then as Red Cap’s eyes began to close, the 
elf stole away softly and left him there. 

But he was not going far. He had a plan by 
which he meant to gain possession of the wand for 
that night at least. After that he would see. Per¬ 
haps he would give it back to Red Cap again, but 
perhaps not. After all there seemed no such great 
reason why the fairy should have it instead of him¬ 
self. Both had taken the journey. Both had run 
the risks. The only thing was that Red Cap had 
gone through the fire, and Nightshade hadn’t, 
but that was n’t everything. 

So reasoning with himself Nightshade flew rap- 

[ J 57 ] 


In the Green Forest 

idly away toward an open place in the forest where 
he remembered having once seen a bunch of pop¬ 
pies growing. The seed must have been dropped 
there by some bird. That was some time ago, and 
he was terribly afraid it might not be in bloom 
now. 

When he reached the spot, however, he saw, to 
his delight, a great scarlet flower burning red in 
the greenness. 

He shook its stem, and a leaf fell off. He folded 
this leaf into a long roll like a roll of satin, and 
taking it under his arm he hastened back with it 
to the hollow. 

When he entered the knot-hole he found that 
Red Cap was sleeping heavily. Moving softly 
about so as not to awaken him, Nightshade took 
a cup and filled it with honey dew. Into this he 
squeezed some drops of poppy juice. Poppy juice 
he knew would throw one into a deep sleep. He 
did not want, with what he meant to do, to run any 
risk of Red Cap’s awakening. 

Then he sat down to wait. All afternoon 
he sat watching by the side of the sleeping 
fairy. 

At last as the light began to fade into dusk in 
the forest arches outside, and as the sky grew pale 

[ 158 ] 


A Message from the Queen 

and bats flitted noiselessly about like shadows, 
Nightshade wakened the fairy. 

When Red Cap slowly and unwillingly opened 
his eyes, he saw the elf standing beside him, a cup 
in his hand. “ Come, Red Cap, it is time for sup¬ 
per,” he said. 

“ I don't want any supper. Oh, let me rest,” an¬ 
swered the fairy drowsily. “ I am so sleepy.” 

“ Then at least drink this.” The elf spoke in a 
kindly tone. “ It will make your sleep the sweeter,” 
and he offered the cup to Red Cap. 

The fairy took the cup and drank deeply. Then 
he fell back again upon the pillow, and once more 
sank into heavy slumber. 

Nightshade waited until he was quite sure that 
Red Cap was asleep. Then bending over the fairy 
the elf gently drew away the magic wand and 
thrust it into his own belt. “Now I am ready to 
stand before the queen and show her some magic 
worth the seeing,” he whispered to himself. 

With a triumphant look on his face, he stepped 
through the knot-hole and flew down into the 
glade where the lights were already beginning to 
shine out brightly. 


[ J 59 ] 


CHAPTER XIII 


MORE MAGIC THAN WAS LOOKED FOR 

T HE glade was a beautiful sight that 
night. The fairies had flown far and 
near and searched out the most beauti¬ 
ful blossoms there were to be found. 
Everywhere, on twigs and leaves, pulsed the 
light of countless fireflies. They were fastened in 
place by strands of spider-web, and the next morn¬ 
ing the fairies would set them free again un¬ 
harmed. 

The queens throne, which was made of a large 
wax-white blossom, was set on a high platform 
made of mosses as soft as velvet. 

There was also a seat prepared for Nightshade, 
and it was on a platform about half as high as 
that of the queen. 

The fairies were all in their best and gayest 
clothes and it was a sight worth seeing. 

All this was as nothing, however, compared with 
the brightness of the glade after the queen and 
her court arrived. Then there was a waving of 
[ 160 ] 


More Magic than was Looked For 

banners, and sparkling of gems. Many of her 
attendants carried torches that burned with dif¬ 
ferent colors, red, blue, green, and yellow. All was 
a blaze of gayety and light. 

When the queen was seated on her throne, the 
oldest of the glade fairies stepped forward and 
made a speech telling her of the joy they felt in 
the honor she had done them, and of how happy 
it made them to see her there. 

Then there were songs and dances to entertain 
her. After they were ended the Fairy Queen bade 
Nightshade approach her. She made him come 
up on the platform beside her, and began to ques¬ 
tion him about magic. 

All grew silent and strained their ears to catch 
what he should say. And Nightshade answered 
her well, for he repeated the things that Red Cap 
had told to him. It was easy to see by the queen’s 
face that she was very much pleased. 

“ But after all,” said Nightshade at last, “ though 
I studied hard and long my best magic lies in this 
golden wand,” and he drew from his belt the wand 
which he had stolen from Red Cap’s side. 

“ All this is very interesting,” said the queen. 
“ And now I would see you work some magic with 
your wand.” 

11 [ 161 ] 


In the Green Forest 


“Very well;” answered Nightshade readily. 
“ I will command a feast to appear before your 
majesty; a magic feast.” 

“ That is not a very new trick,” said the queen, 
“but still, it will do well enough to begin with.” 

“ But this shall be a feast such as you have 
never seen before.” Then Nightshade waved the 
wand three times, and commanded that there should 
be spread for all there a feast more magnificent 
than was ever seen before. “Abracadabraca! be 
it as I say,” he concluded. 

Immediately, and shaping itself out of nothing 
at all, appeared a long table. It was covered with 
a silken cover that shone with its own light as the 
fairy queen had never seen anything shine before. 
And no wonder, for it was silk, woven from the 
magic of the Sun Queen. 

Upon this table was set forth a feast such as to 
make the mouth water with its deliciousness; and 
all was served in tiny dishes and goblets made of 
wondrous gems. Each one was shaped from one 
jewel. And not only this, but from these gems 
themselves came a delightful sound of delicate 
music, each dish and goblet adding a tone of its 
own, but all as exquisitely blended as the colors 
on the table, and the perfume of the feast. 

[ 162 ] 


More Magic than was Looked For 

All stared with amazement at this beautiful 
magic, and the queen herself could not resist a cry 
of admiration. Then she arose from her throne. 
“Nightshade, you shall lead me to the feast,” she 
said. 

All this had taken but a short time. Every one 
had been too busy looking at the table to have 
any eyes for Nightshade. If they had glanced at 
him they would have been amazed, for the 
moment he had spoken the magic words a look of 
pain and terror had come into his face. His 
features twisted with anguish. Even as the queen 
spoke the elf gave a loud cry and threw the 
wand he had been holding as far away as he 
could. 

The fact of the matter was, that as soon as the 
wand heard him bid it spread a feast it began to 
burn with magic. It burned hotter and hotter in 
the elfs hand. Red Cap would not have minded 
this, nor even noticed it perhaps, for he had studied 
with the Sun Queen, and no heat nor fire could 
harm him. But it was otherwise with the elf. It 
was agony to him. 

He had stood it as long as he could, clinching 
his teeth together to keep from shrieking out, but 
as the queen arose he could bear it no longer, and 

[ 163 ] 


In the Green Forest 


so it was that he had cried out and thrown the 
wand away. 

But this was not the end of it. The moment 
the wand touched the earth it turned into a fiery 
serpent. This way and that it twisted and slid, 
and everything it touched began to scorch and 
smoke. It writhed against the table and in a 
moment the cover was on fire and everything 
blazed up. It touched the flowers and they were 
charred and burnt. The fairies shrieked and flew 
up into the trees. All were in a panic. 

But Nightshade was the first to fly. Darting 
up to his knot-hole he ran into the hollow and 
caught Red Cap by the shoulder, dragging him 
from the bed. 

“ Come, come, Red Cap,” he shrieked, “ or your 
wand will burn up all the forest.” 

He dragged the fairy, half awake, out to the 
edge of the knot-hole. 

But when Red Cap looked down and saw what 
was happening below all sleep left him. With a 
cry he darted down toward where the flaming ser¬ 
pent was writhing its zigzag course. 

He hovered over it watching his chance, and 
then like a flash he caught it by the tail and lifted 
it from the ground. 

[ i6 4 ] 


More Magic than was Looked For 

As he did so the snake became once more a 
harmless golden rod in his hand. 

Then he looked about at the smoking glade, 
and the frightened 
fairies. “ What is 
this?” he said sternly. 

“ Who has dared to 
steal my wand and 
to try to work magic 
with it?” 

“It was Night¬ 
shade,” answered the 
weeping fairies all 
together. 

The fairy queen 
alone was calm. She 
still stood on her 
platform, and though 
she was very pale, 
she gazed at Red 
Cap keenly. 

The fairy turned 
to Nightshade. “So!” he said. “Was it for 
this you wished to know about my magic ? Better 
would it have been for you if you had known 
either a little more or a little less.” 

[ ] 



‘ Like a flash he caught it by the tail , and 
lifted it from the ground 


In the Green Forest 

“ Your magic,” said the queen. 

Then Red Cap turned and knelt before her. 
He knew who she was immediately. 

“ Forgive me, your majesty,” he said. “ I did 
not mean that you should be troubled with the 
little magic that I have picked up on my travels. 
Indeed it was so that nothing might be said about 
it that I was going to stay hidden in yon hollow 
until to-morrow. I feared the fairies of our glade 
might, out of their foolish friendliness, try to bring 
me forward; try to make me show off my new 
learning.” 

“ But,” said the queen, “ it was in hopes of see¬ 
ing some new magic that we came here this 
evening, — the wonderful magic that Nightshade 
had learned from the Sun Queen; or at least 
so we believed at first, but now it begins to 
seem that we were mistaken in thinking him so 
learned.” 

“ Ah, I begin to see,” said Red Cap. And in¬ 
deed he did begin to understand how it all was, 
for he was no longer the simple-minded lad he had 
been when he first started out from the old home 
hollow on his journey through the world. Then he 
looked about him. “ The first thing I will do, 
I will, with your majesty’s permission, right 
[ 166 ] 


More Magic than was Looked For 

the harm that my magic wand has done,” he 
said. 

With that he waved the wand and commanded 
that everything should be as it had been before, 
and immediately it was so ; every flower, every 
leaf, was again fresh and blooming; the table 
was again spread with the feast, and once more 
the magic dishes took up their sweet, faint music, 
and this time there was no trouble with the magic 
wand. 

The queen held out her hand to Red Cap. “ It 
shall be your honor,” she said, “ to lead me to the 
table.” Then she turned a severe look upon 
Nightshade where he stood with drooping head, 
and so ashamed that he longed to sink through 
the ground. “ As for you, Nightshade,” she 
added, “ what punishment do you not deserve for 
the deceit you have tried to practise upon us?” 

But Nightshade sank upon his knees before her, 
begging her to forgive him. Red Cap joined his 
prayer to Nightshades, telling the queen that the 
elf had been a faithful comrade to him through all 
their wanderings. He told, too, how Nightshade 
had suffered all the hardships of the journey just 
as he had himself, except that he had failed in 
the last one. 


[ 167 ] 


In the Green Forest 


As she listened the queen’s looks softened. 
“ Very well, ” said she ; “ for your sake I will forgive 
him, and he shall not be punished further than 
this, that he shall be banished from this glade 
forever and return to his own people, the elves. 
That is best at any rate, for like should be with 
like; otherwise trouble is sure to come of it as it 
did just now.” 

Nightshade was glad enough to get off so 
easily. Indeed he was not greatly grieved over 
being sent back among the elves again, especially 
after all that had happened. He might still hope 
to be of some importance among them, while from 
henceforth he could only be an object of scorn to 
the fairies. 

But now there was one more interruption. All 
the while that this had been going on Mother 
Peaspod, followed by the father and the old Gran- 
daddy Dandelion, had been working her way 
through the crowd toward Red Cap. Now she 
could restrain herself no longer. “ My son! my 
dear, dear son! ” she cried, and flying to Red Cap 
she flung her arms about his neck. Red Cap 
kissed her with tears in his eyes, and then turned 
to greet his father and his grandfather. “ I knew 
it would all be well with you in the end, with that 
[ 168 ] 


More Magic than was Looked For 

talisman about your neck,” said the old Grandaddy 
in his quavering voice. 

The queen looked on at the greetings with 
an indulgent smile, and when they went to the 
feast she commanded that the Peaspods should 



“ The queen questioned Red Cap 
further about his magic.” 


be placed next to Red Cap, who sat at her right 
hand. 

Then all went merrily, and after they had feasted 
and drunk the queen questioned Red Cap further 
about his magic. 

He told her much. Far more than Nightshade 

[ i6 9 ] 






In the Green Forest 


had been able to. He also showed her magic 
more wonderful than any she had ever dreamed 
of before. But always as he played his enchant¬ 
ments it was toward Bluebell the fairy glanced. 
He cared more for her wonder and delight than 
for what any one else could say; and Bluebell 
thought that there never had been a fairy so 
wise and generous and handsome as Red Cap 
was. 

The queen was so pleased with what she saw 
that she would have liked to take Red Cap back 
to court with her, promising him the greatest 
honors that were hers to give; but Red Cap 
thanked her and said no. He had travelled far 
and seen much, but in no place could he be so 
happy as in his own glade, and among his own 
dear people. 

So the queen was obliged to go away without 
him, and there he stayed among the well-known 
trees, and was held in great honor and respect 
by all. 

The queen did not forget him. Often a mes¬ 
senger arrived bringing him presents and kind 
words from her majesty, and every year she herself 
paid a visit to the glade to eat of Red Cap’s magic 
feasts, and to see him work his enchantments. 

[ 170 ] 


More Magic than was Looked For 

After a while Red Cap married Bluebell, and 
always he said that the best enchantment in the 
whole world was that that shone about him from 
her dear eyes. 



[ I 7 I ] 




















THE 

CHRISTMAS 

ANGEL 

Written and Illustrated by 

KATHARINE PYLE 

Author of “IN THE GREEN FOREST,” 
“ AS THE GOOSE FLIES,” Etc. 

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LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 WASHINGTON STREET • BOSTON, MASS. 






















AS THE GOOSE FLIES 

Written and Illustrated by KATHARINE PYLE 

Author of “In the Green Forest “ The Christmas Angel," etc. 


T HIS is the story of a little girl who goes through the wall of the nursery 
and takes a ride upon Mother Goose’s Gander. At the city of the shining 
towers she finds the forgotten story for which she has all the time been searching. 



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